Charles C. Kaplan, 96, who worked in several Chicago banks for more than 50 years, died of organ failure Tuesday, Dec. 31, in The Hallmark senior residence in Chicago. Mr. Kaplan dropped out of high school to work as a messenger at Liberty Bank on Chicago’s West Side. Over the years he was also employed by Independence State Bank, Central National Bank and Exchange National Bank, working his way up to vice president. He became an expert in land trusts and served as president of the Chicago Land Trust Council. He took a leave of absence for two years in the early 1950s to become a general manager for a home improvement company, but returned to banking. “He had a rational, logical mind and a gift for numbers and statistics that made him well suited to banking,” said his son Mort. Mr. Kaplan retired in the early 1980s from Exchange National Bank and worked as a banking consultant. His wife, Mabel,died in the late 1950s. Besides his son, survivors include his longtime companion, Josephine Rizzio; another son, Robert; a sister, Rose Burnstein; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. A graveside service will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday in Westlawn Cemetery, 7801 W. Montrose Ave., Chicago.
