obituaries
Child Psychiatrist, Author
Stuart L. Kaplan Dies at 82
P HEATHER M. ROSS | STAFF WRITER
sychiatrist Stuart L. Kaplan, a
teacher, author and clinical
researcher whose passion was in
assisting children, died on May 23. He
was 82.

Kaplan was buried in the tallit he was
married in, with a love letter from his
wife Joan Busner Kaplan. He had an
Orthodox ceremony.

His family said he was devoted to his
work and was still seeing patients until he
suffered a brain hemorrhage in November
from which he never recovered.

Kaplan was born on May 29, 1939, in
Washington D.C., where he grew up.

He earned his medical degree at George
Washington University, where he also
completed his undergraduate courses.

He completed his psychiatry residency
at the University of Pennsylvania in both
child and adult psychiatry.

After medical school, he began his
psychiatric career at the Philadelphia
Child Guidance Center. Later, he took a
position in New York as the director of
child psychiatry at Long Island Jewish
Hospital, where he met Joan Busner, who
he married in 1994.

During the Vietnam War, Kaplan was a
lieutenant commander and served as a doc-
tor in the Navy at what is now the Walter
Reed National Military Medical Center,
according to his son, Lawrence Kaplan.

He also had a stint as the executive
director of New York State’s Rockland
Children’s Psychiatric Center, which was
affiliated with Columbia University. He
was a professor there and taught some
courses, Busner Kaplan said.

It was there that Kaplan took steps
that changed child psychiatric treatment
by emphasizing the inclusion of families
and caregivers in treatment plans, which
was uncommon at the time.

Kaplan’s passion for child psychiatry was
well known, and when asked why it was
so important to him, Busner Kaplan said,
“There was no voice for them (the kids).”
Kaplan also was the director of St.

Louis University School of Medicine’s
ABELSON-GUENTHER Roslyn passed away June 21,
2022. Beloved wife of the late Alan
Guenther. Loving mother of Adam
Turoff (Lisa) and Martin Guenther.

Dear sister of Doris Abelson (Jan).

Contributions in her memory may
be made to the Multiple Sclerosis
Society 30 S. 17th Street, Suite
800, Phila PA 19103.

GOLDSTEINS’ ROSENBERG’S
RAPHAEL-SACKS www.goldsteinsfuneral.com
BARG Evelyn (nee Golin). June 23, 2022
of Blue Bell, Pa. (formerly of Mont-
gomeryville). Beloved wife of the
late Alan. Cherished mother of Nan-
cy (James) Brady, Pamela (Steve)
Rosenthal and Brian Barg. Sister of
Barbara (Bob) Solomon and Melvin
(Marci) Golin. Proud grandmother
of Alana, Megan, Abby, Julia and
Remi. Contributions in her memory
be made to the Alzheimer’s Asso-
ciation. JOSEPH LEVINE AND SONS
www.levinefuneral.com www.jewishexponent.com
20 COHAN
Burton, June 14, 2022, At age 94,
Burt passed away peacefully sur-
rounded by his loving family. He
shared 66 years with his devot-
ed wife, Joan (nee Rosencrantz).

It was a lifetime filled with love,
happiness, adventure and won-
derful blessings. With pride and
encouragement, Burt inspired his
children, Michael Cohan, MD and
Mindy Cohan, VMD to achieve their
challenging goals. Daughter-in-law,
Lauren Rosenberg, MD complet-
ed the love Burt shared within his
immediate family. During Burt’s im-
pressionable years at Central High
School, he excelled in developing
all the positive traits of one’s char-
acter. He treasured his life- long
friends and learned the meaning of
JUNE 30, 2022 | JEWISHEXPONENT.COM
child psychiatry program and residency
training in child psychiatry. Later, he
was the chief of child psychiatry at Penn
State Health’s Milton S. Hershey Medical
Center before finally practicing psychia-
try in Kennett Square.

While Kaplan was an academic, educa-
tor, researcher and doctor, it was all con-
nected to his true passion — helping kids.

“He was smart, ethical and put patients
first. He would call any judge, social
worker or school to help a kid,” Busner
Kaplan said.

In 2011, Kaplan published, “Your Child
Does Not Have Bipolar Disorder: How
Bad Science and Good Public Relations
Created the Diagnosis” after observing a
dramatic growth in the number of chil-
dren diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

That is a “serious, lifelong diagnosis,”
Busner Kaplan said.

Kaplan was concerned that children
were being misdiagnosed and parents
were being misguided based on what
he believed was a fad diagnosis. He was
later validated when the DSM-5, a book
sportsmanship as a stellar member
of Central’s winning Track Team.

He NEVER stopped wearing his
Central Class of 184 ring! His ac-
complishments on the track team
earned Burt a four-year scholarship
to Temple University. During his first
semester at Temple, Burt was draft-
ed into the Army. He was shipped
to the Philippines and spent 18
months in Manila. (By the fate of
birth, the Second World War had
just ended.) Burt always claimed
his service in the Army was a pos-
itive experience. After graduating
from Temple, he joined his father
in the Wholesale Shoe Business.

It was a very successful 50-year
career. During his free time, Burt’s
greatest pleasure was spending
time outdoors mowing, growing,
raking and pruning the lawn. He
thrived on the energy and satisfac-
tion that he derived from being on
“his” lawn. Everyone who knew Burt
recognized his sincerity, gentle na-
ture and his innate kindness. Burt
had a content and fulfilled life...his
wishes and dreams came true. He
will be deeply missed and forever
loved. Contributions in Burt’s mem-
ory may be made to the Associated
Alumni of the Central High School
of Philadelphia PO Box 26580
Philadelphia, PA 19141-6580, or a
Stuart L. Kaplan
Courtesy of the Kaplan family
containing updated criteria for diagnos-
ing mental disorders, refused to create a
diagnosis for child bipolar disorder.

“He just felt, ‘I’m gonna do what’s right
and damn the rest.’ He did that all the
time,” Busner Kaplan said, describing her
husband’s decision to publish the book as
brave since diagnosis was being pushed
then by influential minds in the field.

Kaplan’s hobbies were as varied
and intellectual as the many places he
worked. He enjoyed sailing and made
an effort to learn celestial navigation and
use a sextant. He learned about his pas-
sions through magazines about astron-
omy and poetry.

He also shared hobbies with his wife.

The two skied and tried horseback riding
together. Kaplan always threw himself
charity of the donor’s choice.

GOLDSTEINS’ ROSENBERG’S
RAPHAEL-SACKS www.goldsteinsfuneral.com
COHEN Jerold J. on June 22, 2022. Beloved
father of Marci Golomb (Richard)
and Mitchell Cohen (Tracey); De-
voted grandfather of Courtney and
Evan; Loving partner of Candice
Goodis; Husband of the late San-
dra; Stepfather of Robin Silver and
Andrea Silver. Contributions in his
memory may be made to a charity
of the donor’s choice.

GOLDSTEINS’ ROSENBERG’S
RAPHAEL-SACKS www.goldsteinsfuneral.com
See Kaplan, Page 22
GALIETTA Harilyn Anne (nee Imber), June 18,
2022, of Naples, FL; beloved wife of
Dr. Gerald Galietta; loving mother
of Marc J. Furber (Monica), Jenni-
fer Furber and Steven Furber (Jes-
sica); devoted sister of Paul Imber
(Cindy); cherished grandmother of
Saul, Samuel, Violet and Jacob. In
lieu of flowers, contributions in Har-
ilyn’s memory may be made to the
American Heart Assoc. (heart.org).

JOSEPH LEVINE AND SONS
www.levinefuneral.com FREEDMAN
Molly (nee CRASNER)-On June
16, 2022, wife of Robert Freedman,
mother of Albert Freedman and
David (Wendee Pratt) Freedman.

Grandmother of Cara Freedman,
Maya Pratt-Freedman and the late
Malcom Jack Freedman. In lieu of
flowers, contributions in her memo-
ry may be made to Cure SMA.

JOSEPH LEVINE AND SONS
www.levinefuneral.com GOLDBERG
Sandra (Sandy) Goldberg (née
Levey), 85, of Oreland, PA, died
peacefully June 11, 2022, after suc-
cumbing to complications from gall-
bladder cancer, just 12 days shy of