Memories of Joe Platt, Page 14

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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.