1951
David
2017
David T. Kaplan
April 28, 1951 — September 27, 2017
David T. Kaplan, of Kennsington, MD, died Wednesday, September 27 of cancer.
Born on April 28, 1951, the son of the late Lillian Westerman and Carl Kaplan and the late Ben Westerman (step-father), he graduated from Hudson High School in Hudson, NY. He obtained a Bachelor’s degree from Drew University in botany and a master’s degree from University of Massachusetts, Amherst and a doctorate from the University of California, Riverside in Plant Pathology.
He spent most of his career in public service with the United States Department of Agriculture. First, he worked as a research scientist in Orlando, Florida to protect citrus plants. In 2002, he shifted his focus towards plant protection policy work in Raleigh, North Carolina. In 2005, he joined the Senior Executive Service in Washington, DC and ultimately retired as Associate Deputy Administrator for Plant Protection and Quarantine, Science and Technology at USDA. He played a key role in safeguarding the nation’s plants and food supply and in setting domestic and international agricultural policy.
Dr. Kaplan and his wife, the former Lynne Pevzner, were married in Pittsfield, Massachusetts in June 1973. They shared a deep and abiding love for one another.
He had a lifelong-love for the Berkshires. After his retirement, he served as a board member of Project Native, an organization that worked to protect the Berkshires from invasive species. He loved nothing more than an evening with Lynne, family and friends sitting on the lawn of Tanglewood and sharing his love of music and the arts.
In addition to his wife of 44 lovely years, he leaves a daughter, Rachel (and Eric) Reicher of Bethesda, MD, a son, Benjamin Louis Kaplan of Washington, DC; a brother, Jim Kaplan of West Palm Beach, FL; two grandchildren, Eli and Avi Reicher; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held on Friday, September 29, 2017 at Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home in Great Barrington.
To send remembrances to his family please go to www.finnertyandstevens.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of David T. Kaplan, please visit our flower store.
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