Leonard Kaplan to be honored Sunday with Memorial Bridge in Fall River

An honor is being bestowed in Fall River today to a man that despite not living here, is engrained in the city’s culture as much as any resident. If not more.

On November 8th, Governor Baker signed Senate bill 2098 to designate a bridge in honor of Leonard “Low Price Lenny” Kaplan.

Sen. Michael Rodrigues, Rep. Carole Fiola, Rep. Paul Schmid, Rep. Alan Silvia, and Sen. Mark Montigny sponsored the bill.

The foot bridge off Davol Street connecting the parking lot of the visitors center at Heritage State Park to Battleship Cove will be designated and known as the Leonard “Lenny” Kaplan Memorial Bridge.

Kaplan who ran the Gob Shop for 44 years before its closure in 1998,  started the Ms. Senior Sweetheart Pageant in 1978 where it ran for 36 years. He was also a very active member in the Fall River community despite never being a resident of the city. He was particularly involved with children and the elderly.

He was heavily involved in PAL, Greater Fall River Re-Creation, Golden Gloves, and United Way. Mr. Kaplan was also known for playing his famous kazoo in his Gob shop spots and at local events.

Congratulations Len Kaplan to a well deserved honor.