Joshua Plantz

Niantic - Joshua Zelmanowitz Plantz, 24, of Niantic, Conn. passed away on Wednesday Jan. 16, 2019 in Madison, Wisconsin. He was born on May 10, 1994 in New Haven, Conn. He is survived by his parents, David Plantz and Sharon Zelmanowitz, of Niantic, Conn. and by his sister, Ariel Plantz, a student at the University of California at Berkeley. Josh was beloved by his parents, sister, surviving grandparents, aunts and uncles, and many cousins and friends.

Josh graduated from East Lyme High School in 2012 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 2016 in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. As an undergraduate, Josh conducted research in the field of cell and tissue engineering at the Ashton Laboratory. He also led a team that created a new design in the field of biomedical engineering, resulting in clinical trials. After graduation, Josh worked as a Research Technologist at the Medical College of Wisconsin and recently moved back to Madison to begin graduate studies in Biomedical Engineering. He was passionate about advancing biomedical research to find treatments for diseases and injuries.

Josh had an intense interest in history and politics. He was also an activist for social justice, educating Milwaukee residents about lead in drinking water and driving citizens to the DMV to obtain voter ID cards. Josh was well known for his sarcastic wit which helped us all laugh through adversity and brought friends and family together in the face of conflict.

A memorial service will be held on Monday January 21, 2019, at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Chapel at 10 a.m. A scholarship fund has been set up in his memory for undergraduate biomedical engineering students at UW Madison. Donations can be made payable to the UW Foundation-Joshua Zelmanowitz Plantz Scholarship Fund, US Bank Lockbox 78807, Milwaukee, WI 53278. Online donations can be made at the following link: https://www.supportuw.org/giveto/zelmanowitzscholarship