Thomas Boyne Platt, 86, formerly of Damariscotta, died peacefully on Sept. 3 in Portland, Ore. due to complications of advanced heart disease. His daughters Holly and Emily and devoted caregiver, Millie, were at his side.
Tom, the firstborn of Boyne Hutchinson Platt and Elizabeth Hanck Platt, was born on Sept. 30, 1927 in Wilmette, Ill. Brother Donald and sister Mary were born after the family’s move to Ames, Ia. After graduating from Ames High School, Tom attended Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (now Iowa State University), graduating in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science degree in dairy industry. Tom continued his education, earning a Master’s degree in microbiology from North Carolina State University (1952) and a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 1956. That same year he began his nearly 37-year career in research and development at E.R. Squibb & Sons, later Bristol-Myers Squibb, in New Brunswick, N.J. He retired in 1993.
Tom married Elizabeth “Betty” Upton in 1954. One year later in Madison, their daughter Margaret was born. Betty became a mother and a Ph.D. in the same year and her thesis acknowledges Tom’s invaluable support. Betty and Tom’s son Thomas was born in Somerville, N.J., in 1957, and daughter Emily in April 1961. The young family was stricken by Betty’s death in February 1962.
Tom remarried in March 1963 to Joyce Perkins. In December, their daughter Holly was born, followed by Susan in July 1966. The family, and especially Tom, enjoyed rural life in New Jersey. Tom was an avid hobby farmer and much of his free time went into nurturing his crops and livestock. The girls have warm memories of bottle-feeding “kitchen” lambs.
After his retirement, Tom and Joyce purchased a house on the Damariscotta River, where they enjoyed socializing with friends and boating on the beautiful waterways. In 2000 they completed their transformation to “snow birds” by buying a house and a boat in Punta Gorda, Fla.
Sadly, Joyce took ill in Florida and returned to her adored Maine for the last time in 2005 where she died on June 16, surrounded by Tom and their three younger daughters. A few years later, Tom moved to Portland, Ore. where he could be close to Holly and Emily and their families. He resided in Portland from 2007 until the end of his life, first in independent living, and finally in an private adult care home.
Tom enjoyed visits from his family, delicious home-cooked meals, reading, and his beloved jazz during his last years.
Tom was also predeceased by sister, Mary in 2013.
Tom is survived by brother, Donald and sister-in-law Ann of Sioux Falls, S.D.; daughter, Margaret and grandchildren Donald and Maegan of Pensacola, Fla.; son, Tom, daughter-in-law Charlotte and granddaughter Annie of Clemson, S.D.; daughter, Emily, son-in-law Raymond and granddaughter Clara of Portland, Ore.; daughter, Holly and son-in-law Josh of Portland, Ore.; daughter, Susan and son-in-law Eric of Bensalem, Penn., and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
