Ralph Jay Kaplan

Ralph Jay Kaplan



Dr. Ralph Jay

Kaplan, born February 17, 1931, in

Queens, NY,

to Abraham and

Rita Kaplan,

died October,

2, 2023 in Albuquerque. A graduate of Albany Medical College, Ralph completed residencies at Albany Hospital and the University of Colorado Medical Center and a neurology fellowship at

Albert Einstein Medical College. He was in the US Navy and was general medical officer on the USS Currituck & the USS Intrepid. Attending a beer party as a young officer, he met a lovely medical technologist named Barbara Dilling; the two married within three months. In 1966, Ralph became one of the first neurosurgeons at the University of New Mexico Medical School and eventually became Professor of Surgery. He took a position with the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine in 1976. Five years was enough for him to realize the error of his ways, so the family moved back to Albuquerque, and Ralph joined Dr. Federico Mora in private practice. In 1996, he hung up his scalpel, but not before he and Barbara traveled to Nepal so he could teach at the medical college in Kathmandu. In retirement, Ralph pursued many hobbies, including sculpting, jewelry making and reading. He loved single-malt scotch, collecting art, tennis, slobbery dogs and telling inappropriate jokes in front of his children and grandchildren. Ralph is survived by his wife of 63 years, children Damara (Merrick) and Karl (Glenda), grandchildren Paloma, Olivia and Joel, sister-in-law Dana (Ronald) Cross, and several nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers Alan and Gene, and nephew Brad. A celebration of his life will be held in November; friends may reach out for details. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Animal

Humane New Mexico

(animalhumanenm.org).