15-9  Morris S. Kaplan

mp-stories:

The government fully checked out all people working on the Manhattan Project. My dad's landlord was asked numerous detailed questions down to which magazines he subscribed to.  My father was always very modest about his contribution. When asked if he ever met Teller and Oppenheimer he said he did, but he that he did meet with I. I. Raby at times. Also please note,it was embarrassing to be a civilian man at home in those days, particularly since they could not tell people what they were doing.

biography:

Morris S. Kaplan was born in Massachusetts in 1921 and grew up in Chicago, IL. He graduated from Englewood High School in 1937 and went to work for the US Treasury in Washington, DC.  He received a degree in Chemical Engineering from the Armour Institute (Illinois Institute of Technology).  Upon graduation he joined the Manhattan Project. At the age of 22 he was placed in charge of a unit responsible for designing a key containment mechanism involving lead plates. While modest about his contribution he was proud of the fact that they were able to complete that part of the project in 3 months and help bring the war to an end sooner.  In 1945 he joined the Chicago Department of Water rising through the system through a management style characterized by integrity, humor, care, and inventiveness. He became the Chief Filtration Engineer and was in charge of the Jardine and South Filtration Plants responsible for the entire water system of the City of Chicago.  He retired in 1984. A lifetime member of the American Water Works Association, he was honored by that organization in 1997. He passed away September 13,2003 leaving his wife of 56 years, three children and seven grandchildren.