Barbara B Kaplan

February 7, 1933 – April 23, 2025

On a beautiful Los Angeles morning, February 7, 1933, at exactly 8:15 a.m., the world became a more radiant and compassionate place with the arrival of Barbara Sue Beckman. Born to Virginia and Edward Beckman, Barbara was a spirited, left-handed girl who filled her childhood with ice skating, movie outings, and just the right amount of mischief—all with her loyal Cocker Spaniel, Blackie, not too far behind.

Barbara’s path was guided early by a love of learning, an authentic interest in other people, and deep empathy. She attended Ralph Waldo Emerson Junior High and University High School in Los Angeles, where she formed friendships and a quiet but growing sense of purpose. She was confirmed at Wilshire Boulevard Temple, graduated from University High School, and went on to the University of California, Los Angeles, where she earned a BA in English Literature. At UCLA, Barbara didn’t just study—she led. As Chapter President of the Alpha Epsilon Phi sorority, she embodied grace, intelligence, and community spirit.

With a heart set on making a difference, Barbara earned her Elementary Teaching Credential through a Ford Foundation Scholarship. She later completed a Master’s Degree in Education with a Counseling Option from California State College, San Bernardino, and later, pursued a summer intensive course at the Jung Institute in Zurich, Switzerland—a testament to her lifelong pursuit of understanding the human mind and heart.

Barbara’s life was a masterclass in purposeful living. Though she began her career as an elementary school teacher, her calling expanded into the realm of mental health, where her empathy and insight still help thousands of children. She devoted herself to creating spaces of healing and trust, most notably co-founding the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center in Rancho Mirage in 1985. The Center continues to be a sanctuary for over 700 sexually, physically, and emotionally abused children each year—a legacy of love and hope that will endure for generations.

Her professional work was matched by decades of remarkable community service throughout the Coachella Valley and beyond. Barbara’s volunteerism was not just a gesture—it was a way of life. Her leadership and service included:

• President, Palm Valley School Parents' Council

• Volunteer, Women’s Auxiliary of Desert Hospital

• Founding Member, Tiempo de Los Niños, a pediatric wing at Desert Hospital

• Volunteer, Desert Circus and Opera Guild of the Desert

• Volunteer, United Way of the Desert

• Therapist, Daughters United Group and Family Counseling Service

• Co-Founder/Therapist, Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center

• Volunteer, Angel View Crippled Children’s Home

• Grief Counselor, Hospice of Marin, Corte Madera

• Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), Sonoma, CA

Barbara was recognized by the State of California’s Mental Health Association for her outstanding work with children in the mental health field—a reflection of the quiet yet powerful difference she made in countless lives.

She was also a woman who lived with great joy. For more than 65 years, she was the beloved partner of Dr. Daniel E. Kaplan. Together, they raised four children and built a beautiful life filled with love, friendship, and adventure. They made homes in Palm Springs, Sonoma, and finally Irvine to be near family, all the while traveling the world—her favorites including Greece, Israel, Vietnam, Switzerland, France, Cambodia, and Scotland.

Barbara brought warmth and humor everywhere she went. Known for her signature malaprops, and thoughtful questions, she could turn any gathering into a party and any conversation into a heart-to-heart. Whether hosting friends or attending a fundraiser, she always asked: What to wear?—with a twinkle in her eye and joy in her heart.

She loved biographies, laughter, old movies, avocados, deep talks, and meaningful connections. Her kindness was felt by everyone she knew—and often, even by those she had only just met.

Barbara is survived by her devoted husband Dan; their children Jeffrey & Marijn Kaplan, Linda & Stewart Schwab, Jennifer & Jeff Forman, and Amy & Franz Klein; her nine cherished grandchildren—Benjamin (and Jen), Holland (and Jenn), Amanda, Julika (and Drew), Briana, Jared, Josh, Jacque, and Harrison (and Jessie); and her great-grandchildren—Henry, Russell, and Margaret.

To her family, she was Hun, Mom, Grandma, Oma, and Mop. To her friends, she was a confidante, a guide, and a radiant soul. And to the world, she was a force of goodness.

Barbara B. Kaplan lived with heart, humor, and a boundless commitment to others. Her legacy is not only in her marriage and family, the places she volunteered her time, or the degrees she earned—but in the countless lives she helped heal, and the joy and compassion she shared so freely.

She made this world better. She made us better. And she will be forever missed.

Live life to its fullest,

Get the most from every day.

Know all kinds of living –

But enjoy your chosen way.

Barbara Sue Beckman, 1954

The family kindly requests that in lieu of flowers, charitable contributions in her memory be made to the Barbara Sinatra Children's Center.