Ziyad Duron ’81

Chair, Department of Engineering

My first recollection of President Platt is from when I was a student here and the singing he used to lead the students in. When I became a faculty member, it was clear that he had created something pretty significant. It wasn’t a structural creation. It was a cultural creation. Joe really had the ability to create a culture of learning and excellence, even in an era when you didn’t have the resources we have today. That was something that left a lasting impression on the community. Now, as department chair of engineering, I think back about what he did in terms of administering this institution. It’s pretty significant. He had far less to work with and created so much more than anyone could have every imagined. He will be missed.

Ethan Rubin ’08

San Antonio, TX

I’ll be listening to Arthur Roberts tonight in Professor Platt’s honor.

“Sing hey nonny nooooooo for natural science…”

Chris Curzon

Monrovia, CA

I remember Joe Platt and his guitar at the East Dorm Milk and Cookies party. “The deuterons go round and round…” I felt he was so accessible and so human and so wise… a truly amazing man.

Gary Kiefer

MD/Ph.d, family physician, Scottsdale AZ

During a summer Sunday tour of HMC before my freshman year, my sister saw Joe leaving Kingston Hall and declared, ‘That must be Harvey Mudd!’ She was right. My condolences to the Platt family, and my
thanks for so generously sharing Joe with us.

David Chandler ’70

Retired teacher, CA

I remember visiting at the Platt’s house when I was a student and mentioning that I was thinking of going into secondary education. I felt a little embarrassed that this was not a worthy career goal for a Harvey Mudd student. Joe completely set me at ease, emphasizing how important it is to have talented, inspired teachers at all levels. He said almost every year there are a few Harvey Mudd alums who go into K-12 teaching. That turned out to be an insightful and empowering conversation. I just retired this year from a long, satisfying career teaching high school physics and math in private, public, and international schools, and am continuing into retirement creating supplementary curriculum materials. Thank you Joe.

Brad Slettene

Richland, WA

Round and round and round go the deuterons…

Gene St. Clalir

Bear Valley Gang member

We all loved having Joe at the Big Bear cabin. He played his guitar and sang from memory numerous ballads. And he had many stories to tell. A kinder, gentler, more interesting man I’ve never met.

David Williamson ’92

San Jose, CA

Like many others, I fondly recall Joe’s singing and teaching, but my favorite memories of Joe are from my brief time on the staff at HMC. I frequently swam a few laps over the lunch hour during the summer, and Joe was always there. At the time, Joe would have been in his late 70s, but he was still simply a machine in the water – he’d jump in and swim half a mile.

I hope to be in half as good of shape when I get to that age!

Susan Parker ’86

Seattle, WA

Freshman orientation around the campfire. “It’s not the money, it’s the principle of the thing, it’s not the money, that makes the nucleus go ’round, it’s the philosophical, ethical, principle of the thing.”

David Ruiz ’92

AVP, valuation actuary, Pacific Life

I got a phone call at about 8:30AM one Friday in April 1992. Professor Platt was on the other end of the line. After the pleasantries, he asked “David, do you want to graduate this year?” You see, I hadn’t turned in my lab book, since it wasn’t quite done. In fact, it wasn’t close. I figured I’d lost any chance of graduating, and I was already starting to contemplate a life without a diploma. Prof. Platt wouldn’t let that be an option. He took my sucesss in this one-unit Physics Lab as a personal goal. He helped me finish the lab and get to the end of my HMC career. Without his help, I wouldn’t have graduated, and I wouldn’t be where I am today. I’ll never forget that phone call. T

Thank you, Prof. You are legend.