Chaya M. Kaplan

Chaya Kaplan passed away peacefully at home in Columbia, Maryland at age 83 on the afternoon of February 1, 2024, surrounded by loving family and the warm thoughts of many others whose lives her own life touched so beautifully.

Chaya entered the world as the second child of Esther and Morris Morman. She often fondly recalled a childhood on the upper west side of Manhattan and in Queens, with summers spent at Rockaway Beach with aunts, uncles and cousins. She attended Bronx High School of Science and Forest Hills High School, then earned a B.A. in Psychology and a Masters of Social Work from the University of Maryland.

Chaya met the love of her life, Gerson Kaplan, at her “Sweet Sixteen” party in December 1956. They married in 1959 and remained partners for over 62 years until Gerson’s death in 2022. They and their three children moved to the new experimental town of Columbia, Maryland in 1969 and built a home together that was filled with love, wisdom and generosity. That home was a beacon of joy and light for family and friends over the years.

Chaya was deeply involved in the Howard County community; she was a founding member of the Columbia Jewish Congregation and created the A-OK Mentoring-Tutoring program, among many other contributions. Her intelligence and compassion served her well as a pediatric social worker at the Kennedy Krieger Institute. She loved teaching and was a frequent workshop leader, consultant and educator, with a focus on helping children and adults with developmental disabilities.

Chaya had a playful and curious soul and was always quick to laugh. She loved being in nature, and enjoyed skiing, traveling, and walking. Lots of walking. Family was her greatest joy and becoming a grandmother one of the highlights of her life. She had a strong sense of justice informed by her Jewish identity and instilled in those around her an appreciation for Judaism’s highest aspirations. She embodied the value of tikkun olam, the repair of the world.

Chaya leaves many family members who cherish her memory: her children Mara Hahn (Harry), Jana Kaplan-Fastow (Peter), and Jason Kaplan (Ellen); her eight grandchildren, Levi, Eden, Eli, Leora, Talia, Matthew, Aaron, and Jeremy; her brother Edward Terry Morman (Julie); her sister-in-law Elissa Macklin (Hal); her nephews Todd Morman, Robin Macklin (Staci), and Peter Macklin, and her great-nieces Jesse and Sophia.

A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, February 4, 2024 at 11:30 AM at Slayton House, Columbia, MD followed by the Graveside Service and Burial at Columbia Memorial Park, Clarksville, MD. Shiva will be Sunday immediately following the burial, and also on Monday, February 5, 2024 from 4:30-7:30 PM at the home of Jason Kaplan

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Chaya's memory to The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins (https://secure.jhu.edu/form/Kimmel) and to AOK Mentoring, a Howard county based Mentoring organization founded by Chaya (https://www.aokmentor.org/giving.html).