Joan Kaplan Davidson, a prominent preservationist and philanthropist who spearheaded endeavors that improved the quality of life in New York City, sadly passed away on Friday in Hudson, N.Y. at the age of 96. Her son, John Matthew Davidson, confirmed her death, stating that her heart failed.
During her impressive career, Ms. Davidson served as chairwoman of the New York State Council on the Arts in the 1970s and as New York State parks commissioner in the 1990s. However, her most impactful contributions were as the president of the J.M. Kaplan Fund from 1977 to 1993. Founded by her father, Jacob M. Kaplan, in 1945, the foundation, while smaller in comparison to larger organizations like Ford, Carnegie, and Rockefeller, became the go-to source for grants dedicated to preserving buildings, supporting cultural institutions, and restoring landmarks throughout New York City.
Under Jacob Kaplan’s leadership, the foundation famously provided the funds to save Carnegie Hall in the 1960s when no one else showed interest. Additionally, they were responsible for the creation of Westbeth, an artists’ housing complex in Lower Manhattan that became a model for rehabilitating industrial buildings worldwide. Under Joan Davidson’s guidance, the foundation laid the groundwork and contributed a significant amount of funding to the Gracie Mansion Conservancy, which focused on renovating and preserving the mayor’s residence.
Passionate about architecture, design, and the city’s overall quality of life, Ms. Davidson concentrated the fund’s efforts on these issues. She also established programs to support the arts, civil liberties, human rights, as well as natural resource conservation and rural preservation in upstate New York.
In a 1997 interview with The New York Times, Ms. Davidson expressed her belief that the Kaplan Fund was unique because it didn’t simply write checks; instead, they actively participated and got involved in projects they supported.
Throughout her tenure, Ms. Davidson preferred allocating relatively modest grants, ranging from $1,000 to tens of thousands of dollars. She believed in strategically using money to initiate and support causes.
Born on May 26, 1927, in New York City, Ms. Davidson was the daughter of Jacob and Alice Kaplan. Her father, who started as a rabbi’s son and later became a successful businessman, established the foundation. After dropping out of school in the eighth grade, he made a fortune in the molasses business in South America and eventually acquired Welch’s Grape Juice. Mr. Kaplan sold Welch’s to his employees in 1956 and dedicated his attention to his foundation.
Like her father, Ms. Davidson had a hands-on approach to philanthropy, readily embracing true believers who approached her. When urban planner Barry Benepe suggested the idea of greenmarkets in the city, she immediately supported it. The greenmarkets not only provided fresh produce to city consumers but also preserved farmland that might have otherwise been lost to developers.
Ms. Davidson’s involvement in the arts and architecture was influenced by her parents. She pursued her mother’s passion for art and architecture while embracing her father’s commitment to civil rights. She was even described by New York Woman magazine as “the fiercest funder of the city’s progressive-liberal causes.”
After graduating from Cornell University in 1948 and earning a postgraduate education degree from Bank Street College of Education in Manhattan, Ms. Davidson taught school and worked in advertising before marrying C. Girard Davidson in 1953. They had four children and divorced in 1967.
In 1970, the Kaplan Fund partnered with the National Endowment for the Arts to establish Westbeth Artists Housing, which provided homes for artists in the old Bell Laboratories building in Greenwich Village. Ms. Davidson played a crucial role in this project, managing its creation and serving as its first president. Westbeth was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009 and designated a New York City landmark in 2011.
Upon her father’s retirement in 1977, Ms. Davidson took over the leadership of the Kaplan Fund. Her father passed away in 1987. She continued her active involvement in conservation efforts, particularly in the Hudson Valley, where she owned a manor house on the riverbanks.
Ms. Davidson’s term as parks commissioner was cut short when she was replaced by Governor George E. Pataki. Nevertheless, she remained dedicated to conservation efforts, always proud of the Kaplan Fund’s commitment to smaller, impactful projects in New York City while other foundations focused on larger initiatives.
Ms. Davidson is survived by her four children, 12 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. She will be remembered for her unwavering dedication to preserving New York City’s landmarks, supporting the arts, and advocating for a better quality of life for its residents.
To commemorate her incredible contributions, a book titled “It’s a Helluva Town: Joan K. Davidson, the J.M. Kaplan Fund, and the Fight for a Better New York” by Roberta Brandes Gratz was published in 2020.
Ashley Shannon Wu contributed to this report.
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