Obituary of Helaine Kaplan Plaut

Helaine Kaplan Plaut died peacefully on May 20, 2021, at her home at Carolina Meadows, in Chapel Hill, where she lived since 1997. She was 101 years old.

Helaine was born in Boston on May 18, 1920. She was the daughter of Saul and Ethel Kaplan of Boston. She graduated from Girls Latin School in 1937 and Wellesley College in 1941 with special honors in English Literature.

Surviving are her brother, Lawrence Kaplan; three children by her first husband, Earl Marvin, and their spouses; six grandchildren (two spouses); two great-grandchildren; and the stepchildren, spouses, sons, daughters, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and even a great-great grandchild of her second husband, Roy Plaut.

In the years after World War II, Helaine became an INGO (International Nongovernmental Organizations) representative in the official system of the United Nations, representing the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable of the world’s children. She held a number of posts, including Chair of the NGO Committee on UNICEF, culminating in the position of Chair of the INGO Committee on the International Year of the Child in 1979, where she had the unique responsibility of working with heads of state in the Western Hemisphere to improve individual government provisions for underserved children. This included our own government. 

In 1986, Helaine and Roy moved to Fearrington Village in Pittsboro, NC. She moved to Carolina Meadows, in Chapel Hill, in 1997. At Carolina Meadows, she continued her interest in providing for the needs and opportunities of underserved families, particularly in Chatham County, and she served on the Carolina Meadows Health Committee, with special interests in vision and eye health.

Helaine will be remembered for her warmth and concern for those in need.

There will be no formal memorial service, but contributions in Helaine’s memory may be sent to the Carolina Meadows Employees Scholarship Fund or a charity of your choice. To donate to the CM Employees Scholarship Fund, please make checks payable to the Carolina Meadows Foundation, and in the memo line, write Memory of Helaine Plaut EE Scholarship Fund. The address to use is 100 Carolina Meadows, Attn: Finance Dept., Chapel Hill, NC 27517.