It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Professor Emeritus William Kaplin, who passed away on Monday, October 21, 2024. His funeral service will be held in Winchester, Virginia, on November 23 at 1:00 pm.

Kaplin joined the Law School faculty in 1970 after graduating from the University of Rochester and Cornell Law School. Prior to joining Catholic Law, he served as a clerk for the U.S. Court of Appeals and worked as an attorney in the General Counsel’s office of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. Kaplin specialized in education law and authored several widely-used textbooks in the field, establishing himself as a nationally recognized expert. Professor Kaplin’s passion for education law inspired the annual William A. Kaplin Award for Excellence in Higher Education Law.

During his 40-year tenure at Catholic University, Kaplin also served as the Founding Director of the Law and Public Policy program. He was known for his wisdom, humor, and generosity, earning the respect and admiration of his colleagues and students. Professor Roger Hartley remembered Kaplin as a “gentle soul with firm views, a good and generous friend, and a true leader.”

Beyond his many academic accomplishments, Kaplin was a devoted husband, father, “bonus dad,” and church elder, and was known fondly as "Grampa Bill" by his beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Kaplin’s legacy is marked by his commitment to promoting justice through legal education and instilling the principles of Catholic Social Teaching in his students. Kaplin will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.