Diane N Kaplan

KAPLAN, DIANE (NEIDES) - 88, of Chevy Chase, MD, on July 20, 2016, formerly of Delray Beach, FL and Tonawanda, NY, widow of Robert P. Kaplan, mother of Ronald W. Kaplan (Mary Ann) of Stephens City, VA and Washington, DC; Laura K. Ouellet (Col. Mark Homrig) of Alexandria, VA; and Carol O. Kaplan of Gaithersburg, MD; grandmother of six and great-grandmother of four.

Diane, a former teacher aide in the Kenmore-Tonawanda (NY) school system for several decades, also taught nursery school and pre-school. A strong supporter of education, she served as a volunteer lobbyist in the New York State legislature on behalf of the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) union. She loved children of all ages and her students remember her for her no-nonsense teaching style, life stories and advice, sense of humor and occasional age-appropriate joke. She was particularly loved by small children for her encyclopedic recitations of nursery rhymes and poems.

Diane and her husband Bob were founding members of Temple Beth Am in Williamsville, NY (now known as Congregation Shir Shalom) and was very active in the Sisterhood. She was also a "Lifetime" member of Hadassah and once served as president of the Buffalo Chapter's Shalom Group.

A proud American born in Cleveland, OH, Diane grew up in Rochester, NY where, as a teenager during WWII, she worked in a factory alongside German prisoners of war processing food for the war effort. After marriage, she made her home in the Town of Tonawanda, NY for more than 40 years. After retirement, she and her husband relocated to the warmer climes of Delray Beach, FL where they enjoyed a large circle of friends and family and an active social life for many years. After the death of her husband in 2013, she joined her children near Washington, D.C. Diane often said that her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were her life's greatest achievement.

Diane will be inurned at Arlington National Cemetery alongside her husband, a decorated bomber pilot (Flying Tiger) in World War II. Contributions in her memory will benefit Hadassah hospitals and may be made to the Diane N. Kaplan Memorial Fund by calling 800-928-0685 or visiting www.hadassah.org and clicking on "donate...in memory of."