In Memoriam: Kaplan, Samuel (Sam)
(1934-2024)
Samuel (Sam) Kaplan, Ph.D., professor emeritus and founding chair emeritus of the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, died May 25, 2024. He was 90. Kaplan was a long-time member of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) and served in key leadership roles in the Society, including Editor in Chief of the Journal of Bacteriology (1987-1991) and ASM Treasurer (1991-1999).
Kaplan’s research centered on the molecular genetics of membrane biosynthesis in the photosynthetic bacterium, Rhodobacter sphaeroides. He made fundamental discoveries on photosystem organization and regulation, and he was recognized worldwide as an expert in the biology of photosynthetic bacteria. He authored more than 225 scientific publications in peer reviewed journals.
Kaplan, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, earned a B.S. in biochemistry from Cornell University, an M.S. in microbiology from Yale University, and a Ph.D. in cell biology from the University of California, San Diego. After completing postdoctoral work at the MRC Laboratory in Cambridge, England, he worked briefly as assistant professor in the Biology Department at Western Reserve University, followed by 22 years at the Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois, Urbana, first as assistant professor, and then rising through the ranks to professor and chair and, eventually, director of the School of Life Sciences. In 1989, Kaplan moved to the medical school at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTH), where he founded the department of microbiology and molecular genetics, and served as professor and chair of the department until he retired in 2011. After his retirement, he was professor emeritus at both the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and the University of Illinois, Urbana up to the time of his death in 2024.
Under Kaplan’s leadership, the UTH Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics became internationally recognized for its high standards in basic sciences research. He recruited faculty with diverse interests, including fundamental microbial biology and mechanisms of microbial pathogenesis, and he established a microbiology and molecular genetics graduate program. His colleagues note that he prioritized the advancement of students and faculty and set a standard for good mentorship still prevalent in the department today, including mentorship of students, postdocs and faculty at all career levels.
Kaplan was a long-time member of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) and served in key leadership roles in the Society, including Editor/Editor in Chief of the Journal of Bacteriology (1978-1987/1987-1991), ASM Treasurer (1991-1999), and publications board chair (1999-2009). He also served as an ASM foundation lecturer (1986-1987). He held service positions outside of ASM as well, including on the central steering committee for PubMed Central (2002 –2006). Throughout his career, Kaplan received many awards for his service to the field, including ASM’s Carski Award in 1986, for excellence in undergraduate education, and the Illinois Society for Microbiology (ASM’s Illinois Branch) Pasteur Award in 1980, for significant and outstanding contributions in the field of microbiology. He was elected fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology in 1995 and fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2008.
He is survived by his wife, Karen; daughters, Idanna (James) Appio and Ilania (Chris) Stangler; grandchildren, Zoe, Lili, Inez and Irving; stepchildren, Brittney Krakower Naaman and Andy Krakower; and grandchildren, Charlie and Toni.
A full obituary and tributes are available on the UTHealth Houston website.
Kaplan’s research centered on the molecular genetics of membrane biosynthesis in the photosynthetic bacterium, Rhodobacter sphaeroides. He made fundamental discoveries on photosystem organization and regulation, and he was recognized worldwide as an expert in the biology of photosynthetic bacteria. He authored more than 225 scientific publications in peer reviewed journals.
Kaplan, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, earned a B.S. in biochemistry from Cornell University, an M.S. in microbiology from Yale University, and a Ph.D. in cell biology from the University of California, San Diego. After completing postdoctoral work at the MRC Laboratory in Cambridge, England, he worked briefly as assistant professor in the Biology Department at Western Reserve University, followed by 22 years at the Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois, Urbana, first as assistant professor, and then rising through the ranks to professor and chair and, eventually, director of the School of Life Sciences. In 1989, Kaplan moved to the medical school at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTH), where he founded the department of microbiology and molecular genetics, and served as professor and chair of the department until he retired in 2011. After his retirement, he was professor emeritus at both the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and the University of Illinois, Urbana up to the time of his death in 2024.
Under Kaplan’s leadership, the UTH Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics became internationally recognized for its high standards in basic sciences research. He recruited faculty with diverse interests, including fundamental microbial biology and mechanisms of microbial pathogenesis, and he established a microbiology and molecular genetics graduate program. His colleagues note that he prioritized the advancement of students and faculty and set a standard for good mentorship still prevalent in the department today, including mentorship of students, postdocs and faculty at all career levels.
Kaplan was a long-time member of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) and served in key leadership roles in the Society, including Editor/Editor in Chief of the Journal of Bacteriology (1978-1987/1987-1991), ASM Treasurer (1991-1999), and publications board chair (1999-2009). He also served as an ASM foundation lecturer (1986-1987). He held service positions outside of ASM as well, including on the central steering committee for PubMed Central (2002 –2006). Throughout his career, Kaplan received many awards for his service to the field, including ASM’s Carski Award in 1986, for excellence in undergraduate education, and the Illinois Society for Microbiology (ASM’s Illinois Branch) Pasteur Award in 1980, for significant and outstanding contributions in the field of microbiology. He was elected fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology in 1995 and fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2008.
He is survived by his wife, Karen; daughters, Idanna (James) Appio and Ilania (Chris) Stangler; grandchildren, Zoe, Lili, Inez and Irving; stepchildren, Brittney Krakower Naaman and Andy Krakower; and grandchildren, Charlie and Toni.
A full obituary and tributes are available on the UTHealth Houston website.