Chief James E. Platt, 82, husband
of Margaret F. (Curtin) Platt of Chebacco Terrace, Essex, died
Sunday December 11, 2011 in the Veterans Administration Medical
Center, Bedford following his long illness.
Born in New York City June 21,
1929, the only child of the late William J. and Frances (Bartlett)
Platt, he was raised in Newburyport and attended West Newbury
public schools.
In 1947 he became a licensed
pilot. During the years of the Korean War he served in Korea with
the Army as a tank mechanic. In the heat of action he survived four
days pinned beneath a disabled tank. Returning to the States he was
an on-site witness to one of the early hydrogen bomb tests at White
Sands, New Mexico. Honorably discharged as a Sergeant, he returned
to Newburyport soon to become the owner and operator of the Plum
Island Airport. During these years he also served as policeman with
the Newbury Police Department, serving as Chief from 1965 to 1969.
He went on to serve as Police Chief in Newbury for four years and
Ashburham for the next four years. Chief Platt came to Essex in
1974, serving as Police Chief until his retirement in 1991. During
many of these years he owned and operated the Essex Bay Lobster
Company. In his retirement he served summers as the Essex
Harbormaster while wintering in the Florida Keys where he enjoyed
fishing.
Chief Platt was a former member of
the Rowley V.F.W. Post #5707. He was a member of the Laurel
Grange of West Newbury since 1953, enjoying a sixty-eight year
membership. He was a Past Master, active for many years in various
Grange events and running lively Saturday Night record hops. He was
also a Mason, belonging to the Newburyport Lodge for many years.
In addition to his wife of
forty-two years he is survived by two sons, John H. Swallow and his
wife Lauren Noonan of Beverly and Michael T. Swallow of Hampton, NH;
six daughters, Elizabeth J. Breau and her husband Robert of
Newburyport, Jacquelyn Snow and her husband Wayne of Seabrook,
Constance Carson and her husband Christopher of Hampton, NH, Frances
Perry and her husband John of Newburyport, Susan Swallow of North
Reading and Kathlene A. Sandrell of East Longmeadow; thirteen
grandchildren and six great grandchildren. He was the husband of the
late Anna J. (Newhall) Platt.
His funeral will be held Friday,
December 16, 9 am from the Whittier-Porter Funeral Home, 6 High
Street, Ipswich, with a Mass of Christian Burial offered at 10 am in
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 52 Main Street, Essex.
Interment with Army Honors will follow in the Spring Street
Cemetery, Essex. Family and friends are respectfully welcomed.
Visiting hours are Thursday 4 to 8 pm. In lieu of flowers memorial
contributions in his name may be made to the Essex Police
Benevolent Association, c/o Essex Police Department, 24 Martin
Street, Essex, MA 01929.
