Louis Jay Caplan

Louis J. Caplan, 74, passed away peacefully Thursday, April 25, 2019 at Silverado Memory Care Sugar Land, following a prolonged battle with Lewy body dementia. Louis leaves behind his wife of nearly 52 years, Linda (Safier), his sons Jeff Caplan and Danny Caplan, and his daughter-in-law Anna Caplan, his grandchildren Gabe and Maya, as well as many close friends and former colleagues. Born at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington D.C. and raised in Charleroi, Pa., the son of William and Edith Caplan. Lou attended Charleroi High School and went on to graduate from West Virginia University in 1966 with a degree in Industrial Management. He started his successful career working for the Ford Motor Company in Detroit, Michigan, before he and Linda moved to Los Angeles, Calif., in 1967. In 1981, a new job opportunity with PLT Engineering moved the family to Sugar Land, Texas, where Lou and Linda resided until moving to nearby Richmond in 2017. Lou worked for a number of high-profile engineering and construction firms, including Parsons and Jacobs Engineering. In 1986, Lou rejoined Parsons, which he initially joined in the 1970s in southern California, as Manager of Materials Management. He would retire in 2002 from Worley Parsons as Vice President & Manager, Materials and Program Controls. He amassed more than 40 years of experience in Project Management, Program Controls, Materials Management and Business Development in the Energy and Chemicals, and related industries. Lou took enormous pride in his work and traveled the world, including multiple business trips throughout Asia, Europe and Israel. Mostly, he cherished the friendships he developed over his more than four decades in the business. An avid sports fan, Lou and Linda were longtime Houston Astros' season-ticket holders, and he owns a collection of foul balls he caught. Lou watched every pitch of the Astros' charge to winning the 2017 World Series. He grew up a Pittsburgh Pirates fan and adored Puerto Rican-born outfielder Roberto Clemente, both for his elegance as a ballplayer and his heart as a caring human being. Coaching his son Danny's Little League teams brought Lou tremendous joy, as did attending Houston Oilers games with his family, watching from the sky-box suites in the upper reaches of the Astrodome. If Lou had a hobby outside of sports, it was taking meticulous care of a large fish tank that alternated between tropical fish and giant goldfish, but mostly he loved his numerous Basset Hounds that became part of the family. From Joshua to Samantha and Hazel, to Cara, Lucy, Betsy and Blossom, who Lou leaves behind, Lou treated the long-eared canines as if they, too, were his children. Lou enjoyed spending time with his young grandchildren, telling one recurring "Why did the chicken cross the road" joke to Gabe that made everybody laugh each time. His happiness around his grandchildren was revealed by the smile that graced his face and the sparkle in his eye when they called him "Popops." In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to HAPS (Houston Area Parkinson's Society), Bassett Buddies Rescue of Texas or the charity of your choice.

Louis Jay Caplan

July 14, 1944 - April 25, 2019