Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Overview: Susan, a long-time lover of the arts, has supported the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) in Boston for over 25 years. In 2000, Susan joined the MFA Board of Trustees. In her Board role, she served as the head of a number of committees, as well as the Chair of the Board of Overseers.

Giving Highlight: As mother and daughter, Rita and Susan shared a common passion – jewelry. The two frequented antique stores, visited jewelry shows, and met with artisans. They marveled at the level of creativity and skill needed to master the art form. And so, it was in honor of her mother that Susan endowed the first-ever curator of jewelry in an American art museum at the MFA in 2006. Based in the Textile and Fashion Arts Department, Yvonne Markowitz is the Rita J. Kaplan and Susan B. Kaplan Curator of Jewelry.