Ever since his teen years, Edward Plonka ’78 had a soft spot for the elderly and volunteered at local nursing homes. Naturally, he became a doctor specializing in geriatrics and was known for his kindness and compassionate approach to aging. He also taught a biology of aging course for many years at SCU and after retirement continued to teach mindfulness-based stress reduction classes. Outside of work, Ed loved gardening and plants flourished under his care. Ed died March 21, 2022, and is survived by extended family, including widow Denise Klysen-Plonka MA ’01, brother Eugene Plonka ’66, nephew Anthony Plonka ’99