Elliot Caplow, real estate developer, philanthropist, 83

Elliot Caplow, a prominent real estate developer and Jewish philanthropist, died Aug. 16 at the age of 83.

Caplow graduated from UCLA in 1952 with a degree in business and began his career as a broker with Hollingsworth and Co. He is credited with brokering two landmark properties during the 1950s — the Simons Brickyard, which at the time was the largest industrial park in East Los Angeles; and Reston, Va., which was one of the first planned residential communities in America. In 1959, Caplow founded E.M. Caplow & Associates to develop commercial and residential properties throughout the Western United States. During the 1970s and ’80s, the company became one of the most prolific developers of Kmart shopping centers. Today, it owns and manages approximately 1 million square feet of property.

Caplow and his wife, Elaine, have been strong supporters of the local Jewish community and Israel. After he retired from his real estate business, Caplow served on the President’s Council of the American Jewish Committee’s Los Angeles chapter. In 2002, the couple opened a Donor Advised Fund at The Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles.

Caplow is survived by his wife of 56 years, Elaine; sons Bradley (Mindy) and Mark (Sue); and five grandchildren.

Services will be held on Friday, Aug. 17, 1 p.m. at Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary, 6001 W. Centinela Ave., Los Angeles. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in memory of Elliott Caplow be directed to The Memory Disorders Fund in the Department of Neurology at Cedars-Sinai, under the directions of Dr. Patrick Lyden. Gifts can be made online at