Melvin Kaplan

Melvin R. Kaplan

A renowned specialist in internal medicine and veteran teaching professor at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, died Thursday, March 16, 2017 at Torrance Memorial Hospital. His wife of 59 years, along with his three sons and their spouses were with him at the time of his death. A native Angelino, Dr. Kaplan was 92 years old, and lived in Rancho Palos Verdes.
His affiliation with Harbor-UCLA goes back almost seven decades. During that time he was professor of medicine and served for five years as chief of medicine. He was a member of the committee that recommended creating the research institute that evolved into LA BioMed.
During his career, he was the recipient of numerous awards, including the Ralph O. Claypoole Sr. Memorial Award, an honor given annually to "an outstanding practitioner of internal medicine." Dr. Kaplan was known widely as a doctor's doctor for his painstaking examinations and analyses of symptoms presented, for the depth and breadth of his knowledge, and for his dedication to his patients and to his vocation.
Melvin Raymond Kaplan grew up on Citrus Ave. He attended L.A. Public Schools and UCLA as an undergraduate. He received his M.D. from USC in 1949. He was an excellent musician and played his trumpet daily.
In 1958, he married Harriet Smith, M.D. She survives him, as do his three sons: Robert A. Kaplan, M.D., Martin R. Kaplan and Roger J. Kaplan; two granddaughters and two grandsons.
His funeral was at Hillside Memorial Cemetery on Monday, March 20, 2017. Memorial contributions may be made to LA Biomed, 1124 West Carson Street, Torrance, CA 90502, or to Children's Hospital Los Angeles, 4650 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90027. Please sign the guestbook at www.dailybreeze.com/obits