David L. Kaplan

David Lee Kaplan, 84, passed away peacefully on June 20, 2026. Born on December 16, 1941, in Pittsburgh, PA, to Hyman L. and Mary Snyder Kaplan. Dave was raised near Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood and attended St. Bede Catholic School and Central Catholic H.S. He spent his junior year in St. Petersburg, FL, attending Bishop Barry H.S. and graduated from Notre Dame H.S. in Sherman Oaks, CA.

Dave attended the University of Delaware and was ROTC all four years. He served as an officer each year for the ATO fraternity, including as chapter president. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in political science. He later earned a Master of Business Administration from Indiana Central.

After graduating in 1964, Dave began his military commitment as an infantry officer and was later appointed a U.S. Army Captain. Dave attended jungle school in Panama and was recognized with the Army Commendation Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and National Defense Service Medal. He was stationed on the DMZ in Korea and then deployed to Vietnam in 1968, a day after the TET Offensive. Dave was awarded the Purple Heart after being wounded in Vietnam.

While Dave was attending a career course for adjutant general officers at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis, IN he was set up on a blind date with Kathleen Kelly in February of 1969. A few dates and three months later, they were engaged and then married that summer on July 12, 1969. Following their wedding, Dave was stationed at Fort Sheridan in Lake Forest, IL. After considering a career in the military, Dave was honorably discharged and they moved to Cleveland, OH, where Dave joined National City Bank.

Dave and Kathy welcomed three children while in Cleveland: David M. Kaplan, Michael A. (Jennifer) Kaplan, and Kathleen M. (Chad) Blackwelder. The family includes six grandchildren: Drew Michael Kaplan; Sophia Katherine, Jack David and Henry Joseph Kaplan; Reese Mestayer and Sterkx Lee Blackwelder. Dave and Kathy were happily married for 57 years!

After almost a decade in Cleveland, Dave and Kathy moved to Indianapolis to be closer to Kathy’s family and seven siblings. Dave joined Indiana National Bank and later worked for Kartes Communications. When Dave picked up a neighbor's call, it turned into a 25-year career at Indiana Oxygen Company. Dave retired as Executive Vice President of IOC in 2010 and consulted for the company until 2015. He still reviewed company financial statements monthly until he passed.

Dave and Kathy were long-time parishioners of Immaculate Heart of Mary, St. Matthew and later in life St. Pius X. Dave coached all his children and many others in basketball, baseball and soccer at Meridian Street United Methodist Church, IHM CYO, Haverford Little League and Bishop Chatard H.S.

Dave loved pretty much any sport, but particularly baseball. He loved Pittsburgh sports teams and valued rooting for his hometown teams at every stop, including the Cleveland Indians and Indianapolis Colts. He loved reading the morning Wall Street Journal. He loved playing cards and having conversations. He loved to dance and travel. He was a man known for his character, which was rooted in treating people ethically, with kindness and with generosity. He cherished people and experiences above all else and spent a lifetime surrounding himself with many wonderful people.

Dave was preceded in death by his parents Hyman Louis and Mary Snyder Kaplan, brother Howard Martin (Mike) Reineman, and sister Carroll Eggleston.

He is survived by his wife, his children, grandchildren and many sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 7200 Sarto Dr, Indianapolis, IN 46240, on June 26, 2026, from 9:30 am to 11:00 am, followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am at the same location and will be live-streamed (https://www.youtube.com/@St.PiusXCatholicChurch).

The burial will immediately follow mass at Calvary Cemetery 435 W. Troy Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46225

Memorial contributions can be made to St. Vincent de Paul, 3001 30th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46218 or to the David L. & Kathleen (Kelly ‘66) Kaplan Endowed Scholarship at Marian University, 3200 Cold Spring Road, Indianapolis, IN 46222.