Date: 12/13/25 6:47 am From: Norman Budnitz (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Dan Kaplan obituary
This is hard for me, because Dan and I had more than 50 years together. I
have so many memories:
- Our first birding ‘adventure’ on the Carolina Friends School (CFS)
Upper Field when Dan was in Middle School, and I was a brand new teacher.
- Seeing a Barred Owl fly in front of us when I was driving the school
bus, taking Dan home at the end of the school day.
- Dan identifying a Manx Shearwater fly-by when we were sitting on the
beach at the Outer Banks.
- Sandhill Cranes calling at dusk when we were setting up camp in
central Florida.
- My falling in the slippery shower, when Dan rescued me in the Pantanal
in Brazil. Oh, and Hyacinth Macaws as well.
- Teaching and learning together for all those Middle and Upper School
years at CFS. And all the years since then.
As student, as friend, as teacher, as colleague--Dan has been a
wonderful part of my life. I have so many fond, fond memories.
Norm
On Fri, Dec 12, 2025 at 4:44 PM Will Cook <cwcook...> wrote:
> Sharing the sad news that birder extraordinaire (and all around great
> guy) Dan Kaplan of Durham, NC, has lost his battle with cancer. From
> Dan's wife Marian Abernathy:
>
> ---
>
> Dan passed peacefully at home yesterday morning surrounded by his loving
> family. We read him the messages you all sent in the past week and he,
> and we, are so grateful for your love and support.
>
> Link to obituary: https://obits.endswellfuneralhome.com/daniel-kaplan >
> Funeral service Monday, Dec 15, 11am at Judea Reform Congregation
> (livestream available for those not in person - link is in the obituary)
>
> ---
>
> Dan has been a fixture of the local Durham birding scene since he was a
> kid at Carolina Friends School in the 1970s. Here's a link to his ebird
> profile:
>
> https://ebird.org/profile/MzEyMjA4/world >
> We'll miss him!
>
> Will Cook - Durham, NC
>
>
