Abraham Kaplan and Irving Copi

Duluth Central High School Debate Team, 1932-33

From the Zenith (Duluth Central High School Yearbook), 1933

Abraham Kaplan and Irving Copi

Noted philosophers, writers, and teachers, Abraham Kaplan and Irving Copi both grew up in Duluth, Minnesota. Kaplan’s family immigrated to the United States from Russia, arriving in Duluth when Abraham was six years of age. Copi was born in Duluth as Irving Copilowish.

Kaplan was younger than Copi but was a year ahead of him at Duluth Central High School, starting there at the age of thirteen in 1931. According to Copi, they first met at debate team tryouts in 1932 and quickly became friends. Kaplan was captain of that debate team.

After graduation from high school in 1933, Kaplan attended the Duluth Junior College for two years, then went off to the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. Copi graduated from Duluth Central in 1934 and then attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. They both returned to Duluth during the summer breaks and spent their time reading and discussing philosophy, according to Copi.

During the 1938-39 academic year, when both men were attending graduate school, they arranged to study at the University of Chicago, where Bertrand Russell was a guest lecturer.

Irving Copi

Irving M. Copi
From the 1934 Zenith (Duluth Central High School Yearbook)

Internationally known logician and philosopher Irving Marmer Copilowish was born on July 28, 1917, in Duluth, Minnesota. His parents were Samuel B. and Rose (Marmer) Copilowish, who had immigrated from Russia in the 1890s. Samuel had opened East End Cleaners in Duluth in 1914 and operated the business for 45 years at 926 E. Superior St. Irving later shortened his name to Copi, a nickname of his father’s. The family resided at 814 E. First St. when Irving was born, and later moved to 419 Eighteenth Ave. E. Irving had one sibling, an older sister named Priscilla.

Irving attended Duluth Central High School, graduating in 1934. He was active in debate, participating in his junior year on a team captained by Abraham Kaplan, and serving as captain himself in his senior year. He was also active in the Stylus Club, the Zenith (yearbook), the Spectator (school newspaper), and the class play.

Abraham Kaplan

 From the 1933 Zenith (Duluth Central High School Yearbook)

Noted philosopher Abraham Kaplan was born in Odessa, Russia, in 1918, and moved to Duluth, Minnesota, at the age of six with his family. His father was Joseph J. Kaplan, a rabbi, and his mother was Chava Kaplan. Joseph served as rabbi at the Tifereth Israel Synagogue at Third Avenue East and Fourth Street from the mid-1920s until about 1940 . While in Duluth, the family resided at 308 E. Sixth Street and at 229 E. Fourth St.

Abraham had four older sisters—Edna, Eva, Etta, and Sadie. He entered Duluth Central High School in 1931 at the age of 13. He was involved in the Stylus Club literary magazine and the Debate Team, and was chosen as captain of the Debate Team for the 1932-33 school year. He graduated from Central in 1933 at 15 years of age. Next to his yearbook photo is the caption: “A brilliant scholar, and Central’s finest orator.“

Notable Duluthians

Don LaFontaine 

Don LaFontaine was born in Duluth, Minnesota, on August 26, 1940.  His parents, Alfred J. and Ruby V. Lafontaine, resided at 2711 West Second Street.  Alfred worked as a switchman for the Northern Pacific Railway.  Later, his parents divorced and both remarried.  Alfred died in Duluth on December 19, 1976.  Ruby died in Duluth on September 11, 2004.  Don LaFontaine had a sister, Sandra L. Ninow, who died in Duluth on January 26, 1977.LaFontaine grew up in Duluth and graduated from Duluth Central High School in 1958.  After graduation, he joined the Army where he worked as a recording engineer.  Following his discharge from the military, he moved to New York City where he worked in radio advertising and began producing movie trailers. 

Notable Duluthians

Peggy Knudsen

Peggy Knudsen was born on April 27, 1923, in Duluth. Her parents were Conrad, a Duluth firefighter, and Helen. They lived in the Stratford Apartments at 18th Avenue East and 4th Street. As a child, Peggy studied the violin and also read extensively about the theater. She attended high school at Stanbrook Hall (College of St. Scholastica), taking part in musical and theatrical activities in her spare time. While in high school, she also won roles in two plays presented by the Little Theatre of Duluth, playing Blossom in “Susan and God” and Kendall Adams in “Stage Door” in 1939 and 1940 respectively. Her father died of a brain hemorrhage at the age of 46 in 1940. She graduated from Stanbrook Hall in 1941. Later that year, because of Peggy’s talent and interest in acting, her mother moved them to Chicago. Peggy soon landed a leading role in “Woman in White,” a popular daytime radio program. In 1942, she was hired to replace Jo Ann Sayers in the starring role of “My Sister Eileen” on Broadway. After completing the season in that role, she moved to Hollywood and signed a contract with Warner Brothers. She appeared in “Never Say Goodbye,” ” Humoresque,”  “The Big Sleep” (with Humphrey Bogart), “Stallion Road,” “My Wild Iris Rose,” “Unchained,” and “Good Morning, Miss Dove.” In the 1950s and early 1960s, she made numerous TV appearances in such shows as “Your Show Time,” “Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” “Perry Mason,” “Bat Masterson,” and “Ozzie and Harriet.” Peggy was married twice, with both marriages ending in divorce. She had three daughters, Peggy, Molly, and Janice. She suffered from crippling arthritis in her later years and worked to support the Arthritis Foundation. She died in Encino, California, on July 11, 1980.