Ronald Steven Kaplan

Ronald Steven Kaplan, beloved husband, father, musician, writer, and deeply rooted member of the Santa Cruz and Aptos communities, passed away unexpectedly on January 24, 2026 at the age of 72.

Born in Hollywood to Willyne and Ira Kaplan, Ronald was the second of four children, including Julia, Richard, and Jana. In 1976 he left LA to attend UCSC with his best friend Greg where he completed his B.A. in Psychology. There they met Jim and Marc, forming a friend group they fondly called The Bobs, who remained close. He met his wife Cheri at the Bagelry on a crowded morning when as strangers they shared a table.

Ronald was a gifted jazz vocalist known for his warm baritone and expressive interpretations of the Great American Songbook. He often sang with jazz bands at Severino's and the Capitola Wharf Summer Series, in addition to gigs in LA, New York, and London. Beginning in 1997, he released a prolific body of work on his independent label, Kapland Records, producing a remarkable catalog of albums that reflected his deep love of classic American popular song and jazz. His recordings include Retro – 1997–2007 Retrospective, Singing the Great American Songbook, New York, Lounging Around and Lounging Around Redux 2006, Saloon, Jazz Ambassadors, Dedicated, and High Standards.

In 2003, Ronald founded the American Songbook Preservation Society, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and celebrating the music of composers such as Gershwin, Porter, Berlin, and Mercer through performance and education.

Ronald was also an author and publisher. He wrote Every Now and Zen: …on the Nature of Being and Becoming, a philosophical exploration of consciousness and personal growth, and Song of Ron, a collection of original songs written between 1976 and 1983.

Known for his sharp wit and steady rotation of well-loved jokes and phrases, Ronald was famously funny and endlessly conversational. An avid reader, he read the newspaper end to end daily and always had biographies and metaphysics books on hand. He had an extraordinary memory and could hold thoughtful conversations on nearly any subject.

Self-made, Ronald worked as an insurance agent for more than 20 years, anchoring him firmly in the Aptos and Santa Cruz communities. Almost everywhere he went, he ran into someone he knew. He took great pride in moving his family to Seascape, a place he loved to walk in peace by the ocean.

Ronald is survived by his wife of 44 years Cheri, daughter Amber; son-in-law, Dave; and granddaughter, Sequoia; and his son, Ryan. He is also survived by his sisters, Julia and Jana; nieces, Nicole and Rebecca; beloved aunts and cousins; and many friends and neighbors. He was predeceased by his beloved brother Richard and parents. He will be greatly missed.

A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2026 in Santa Cruz. For event details, RSVP at: https://pp.events/ronkaplan.

Published in Good Times · March 4, 2026