Elaine Marcus Kaplan

October 1, 1934 – April 2, 2023

Elaine Marcus Kaplan died peacefully on April 2, 2023 in Bethesda, Maryland. She was born in New York City to Sol and Gertrude Marcus and raised in Parkchester, New York. She was predeceased by her husband Leonard, brother David, and son Andy. She is survived by her sons Michael (Susan Sawyer), Rick (Patricia Dutra), and her daughter-in-law, Carol Golin. She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren Lily and Elliot Sawyer-Kaplan, Zach, Drew, and Ben Kaplan, and Daniel and Emily Kaplan.

Elaine began her career teaching 3rd grade in New York City after graduating Phi Beta Kappa (junior election) from Queens College. She continued teaching while raising her three boys on Long Island and eventually earned her Ph.D. from Hofstra University after the birth of her third son. Her career then took her from Stony Brook University to Dowling College where she was a tenured professor and then Dean of Education. Elaine was adored by her students whom she mentored with kindness and dedication. Generations of students benefited from her wisdom, generosity, and innovative approach to teaching reading.

Elaine believed deeply in the value of education and reading, particularly for young children. She read voraciously and shared that love with her children and grandchildren. We treasure memories of Grandma Elaine, on the couch, a grandchild next to her on one side and a pile of books on the other. Indeed, the only phone call that Elaine would entertain during the dinner hour was the public library calling to let her know that a reserved book was ready for pickup.

Apart from reading and education, Elaine was also passionate about traveling, theater, and social justice, all interests she passed on to the subsequent generations of her family. In her early years, Elaine was also an avid fan of the New York (baseball) Giants and loved telling the story of how she tore up her calculus homework in a moment of pure joy when Bobby Thomson hit his famous "shot heard round the world" to defeat the Brooklyn Dodgers and win the Giants the 1951 National League pennant.

Funeral services will be private. In lieu of flowers, you may donate to the Leonard and Elaine Kaplan Endowment for Children's Literature at Queens College (CUNY) at https://qccommunity.qc.cuny.edu/elaine-kaplan.