Obituary for Dr. Ellis Stanford Caplan
Dr. Ellis Stanford Caplan, a longtime resident of Crownsville, died at his Sykesville home on October 21, 2022, after a long illness.
Dr. Caplan grew up in South Philadelphia and went his own way to the University of Maryland while all his friends were going to Pennsylvania colleges. At Maryland, he joined the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity and continued on to the University of Maryland School of Medicine, from which he graduated in 1968.
His medical career began in 1968 as an intern at the University of Maryland Hospital. He then became a resident at Sinai Hospital the following year, where he met a nurse named Christina (Tina). After returning to the University of Maryland Hospital for his second year of residency in 1970, he served on active duty in the Army from 1971 to 1973. He returned from Vietnam in 1972 and completed his service at Fort Carson near Colorado Springs, achieving the rank of Major and earning a Bronze Star, among other distinctions.
Ellis and Tina married in 1973 and returned to Baltimore, where he became an infectious disease fellow and instructor at the University of Maryland Hospital. Dr. Caplan was the first chief of the Shock Trauma Center’s Infectious Disease department from its inception in 1976 until his retirement in 2015. During that time, Dr. Caplan earned numerous awards and accolades and also served as a professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
He was a world-class expert in his field, respected by fellow doctors and nurses, and adored by patients. He loved treating patients and embodied the altruistic values of the medical profession. From whimsical ties in the 1980s and 1990s to Aloha shirts later in his career, Dr. Caplan was easy to spot in the hospital.
Dr. Caplan was as dedicated to his children as to his distinguished medical career. He attended all of his childrens’ games and other activities, and even coached all three to victory in basketball. He also instilled in his children a strong work ethic, commitment to philanthropy, and understanding of their Jewish heritage.
His hobbies were varied, from model trains and DIY projects around the house (aided by trips to the library in years before the internet) to sailing and Corvettes. He applied his hobbies to his children, building a wooden playset complete with a homemade airplane swing when they were small, and setting up computers in their college dorm rooms so they could utilize the latest technology at the time: the internet and email. He also enjoyed traveling around the U.S. and the world with his family and, after his retirement, he and Tina went on many adventures with their friends.
With the birth of his first grandchild in 2014 came his new moniker–Pops–and a new pastime of playing with his grandkids.
He is survived by his wife, Christina, his three children, Mindy (and her husband Josh), Stephanie (and her husband Chris), and Marc (and his wife Carmen), and his sister Arlene (and her husband Dennis). He had six grandchildren: Alexandra, Ryan, Grant, Tatum, Nicolas, and Camila; and four granddogs: Backup, Delsey, Penny, and Smalls. He also had five nieces and a nephew.
He was a loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather; a lifelong friend to many; and a consummate physician. We will miss you, Pops. Aloha and rest well.
A funeral service will be held at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, 1911 Forest Drive, Annapolis, MD 21401 at 11am on October 26, 2022. The burial site is in the rear of the cemetery.
Following the interment, the family will be receiving friends and colleagues at Temple Beth Shalom Congregation, 1461 Baltimore-Annapolis Blvd., Arnold, Maryland, 21012 until 3pm.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his name to the Alzheimer’s Association of Maryland, 502 Washington Avenue, Suite 300, Towson, MD 21204.
Dr. Caplan grew up in South Philadelphia and went his own way to the University of Maryland while all his friends were going to Pennsylvania colleges. At Maryland, he joined the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity and continued on to the University of Maryland School of Medicine, from which he graduated in 1968.
His medical career began in 1968 as an intern at the University of Maryland Hospital. He then became a resident at Sinai Hospital the following year, where he met a nurse named Christina (Tina). After returning to the University of Maryland Hospital for his second year of residency in 1970, he served on active duty in the Army from 1971 to 1973. He returned from Vietnam in 1972 and completed his service at Fort Carson near Colorado Springs, achieving the rank of Major and earning a Bronze Star, among other distinctions.
Ellis and Tina married in 1973 and returned to Baltimore, where he became an infectious disease fellow and instructor at the University of Maryland Hospital. Dr. Caplan was the first chief of the Shock Trauma Center’s Infectious Disease department from its inception in 1976 until his retirement in 2015. During that time, Dr. Caplan earned numerous awards and accolades and also served as a professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
He was a world-class expert in his field, respected by fellow doctors and nurses, and adored by patients. He loved treating patients and embodied the altruistic values of the medical profession. From whimsical ties in the 1980s and 1990s to Aloha shirts later in his career, Dr. Caplan was easy to spot in the hospital.
Dr. Caplan was as dedicated to his children as to his distinguished medical career. He attended all of his childrens’ games and other activities, and even coached all three to victory in basketball. He also instilled in his children a strong work ethic, commitment to philanthropy, and understanding of their Jewish heritage.
His hobbies were varied, from model trains and DIY projects around the house (aided by trips to the library in years before the internet) to sailing and Corvettes. He applied his hobbies to his children, building a wooden playset complete with a homemade airplane swing when they were small, and setting up computers in their college dorm rooms so they could utilize the latest technology at the time: the internet and email. He also enjoyed traveling around the U.S. and the world with his family and, after his retirement, he and Tina went on many adventures with their friends.
With the birth of his first grandchild in 2014 came his new moniker–Pops–and a new pastime of playing with his grandkids.
He is survived by his wife, Christina, his three children, Mindy (and her husband Josh), Stephanie (and her husband Chris), and Marc (and his wife Carmen), and his sister Arlene (and her husband Dennis). He had six grandchildren: Alexandra, Ryan, Grant, Tatum, Nicolas, and Camila; and four granddogs: Backup, Delsey, Penny, and Smalls. He also had five nieces and a nephew.
He was a loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather; a lifelong friend to many; and a consummate physician. We will miss you, Pops. Aloha and rest well.
A funeral service will be held at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, 1911 Forest Drive, Annapolis, MD 21401 at 11am on October 26, 2022. The burial site is in the rear of the cemetery.
Following the interment, the family will be receiving friends and colleagues at Temple Beth Shalom Congregation, 1461 Baltimore-Annapolis Blvd., Arnold, Maryland, 21012 until 3pm.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his name to the Alzheimer’s Association of Maryland, 502 Washington Avenue, Suite 300, Towson, MD 21204.