Sheldon Kaplan

Sheldon Kaplan, 70, a biomechanical engineer who invented the EpiPen, died at home on Monday, September 21 after a short, valiant battle with cancer. During his 40 year career, Mr Kaplan developed numerous lifesaving technologies that are used by doctors in hospitals worldwide. Notable among these is the EpiPen autoinjector, which is carried by tens of millions of people around the world to treat allergic reactions in emergency situations. At Survival Technology in Bethesda, MD from 1965 to 1978, he developed the EpiPen, ComboPen, PneumoPak, and the first emergency medical kit for the Apollo Moon Missions. From 1978 until 2002, he developed medical devices for prominent hospital product companies, including eight years spent as a senior research engineer at Abbott Laboratories of Abbott Park, IL. Mr. Kaplan was born in Everett, MA, and graduated Northeastern University in 1962. Early in his career, Mr. Kaplan worked at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, where he performed mechanical design and structural analysis of hardware for meteorological and scientific satellites. Mr. Kaplan and his wife were founding members of Temple Beth Ami in Rockville, MD in 1971. Survivors include his wife, Sheila (Potts) Kaplan, of Clearwater, his son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Bethany (Ruschill) Kaplan, of Coralville, Iowa, a sister, Phyllis Goldenberg, and nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at David Gross Funeral Home in St. Petersburg, FL on September 24 at 2:30pm. The family suggests that memorial contributions be made in Shel Kaplan's name to The American Cancer Society or The Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. David C. Gross Funeral Home is serving the family. Service Information