William M. Kaplan, retired doctor
William M. Kaplan, MD, passed away suddenly in Rehoboth Beach Friday, Jan. 19, 2024. He was the son of the late Abe K. and Frieda L. Kaplan of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, Pa.
Dr. Kaplan is survived by his loving wife, Deborah (Debi); his daughter, Kathryn Kaplan (Jim Doohaluk) of Havertown, Pa.; and grandson, Alex Doohaluk.
Dr. Kaplan had a 34-year career practicing gastroenterology in the Bayhealth medical system in both Dover and Milford. He was the first practicing gastroenterologist in Kent and Sussex counties when he moved to Delaware in 1984. He retired in 2018 after a productive and successful practice, serving countless patients over his extensive career. He also held within the Bayhealth system medical positions such as chief of staff, medical executive committee member, and performance improvement committee member, to name a few.
Dr. Kaplan was a native of Philadelphia, Pa. He graduated from Germantown High School and subsequently from Penn State University in 1969 (cum laude). While at Penn State, he joined the Phi Sigma Delta fraternity and made numerous lifelong friendships with the fraternity brothers. He received his medical degree in 1974 from Hahnemann Medical School, where he was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha National Medical Honor Society. He attended George Washington University and worked at the National Institutes of Health until he returned to Hahnemann Medical School and Hospital in 1976 for his internal medicine residency. He then completed his gastroenterology fellowship in 1980 at Temple University Hospital, where he became an assistant professor of medicine and director of GI endoscopy until 1984, at which time he started his medical practice in Delaware. Dr. Kaplan was board-certified in both internal medicine and gastroenterology.
Dr. Kaplan had many interests and hobbies, including golfing, traveling, driving his cherished cars, and boating and fishing in Rehoboth and Delaware Bays. Along with his wife, he was proud of adopting and spoiling the many homeless dogs and cats he and Debi rescued. He was also truly fortunate to have a close circle of devoted and trusted friends whom he considered adopted brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews, and to whom he gave his unconditional love. He was honored to be affectionately referred to as “Uncle Billy.”
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in his honor to First State Animal Center and SPCA, 32 Shelter Circle, Camden, DE 19934.
Burial will be private.
Visit Mr. Kaplan's Life Memorial webpage and sign his online guestbook at parsellfuneralhomes.com.
