Memorial service for Mary Platt slated for April 5
Mary Frances Haring Platt, a retired radiology supervisor at MUSC, died March 21, of breast cancer. She lived in the Town of James Island.
Mary,
daughter of the late Daniel Francis Haring and Eunice Jolly Haring, was
born in Charleston on Oct. 14, 1951.
She grew up in Charleston and Mount Pleasant, attending Sacred Heart and Christ Our King Schools and graduating from Bishop England High School with the Class of 1969. Mary trained as an X-ray technologist at the Orangeburg Regional Hospital and, for outstanding performance, received The Mallinckrodt Award at graduation. She worked several years at the Charlotte Memorial Hospital, then the next 27 years at MUSC, from which she retired as a radiology supervisor. While working full-time and attending classes at night and on weekends, Mary earned her bachelor of health sciences and master of science in health professions education degrees at MUSC.
Mary and Eugene Platt were married at Old Saint Andrew's Parish Church (Episcopal) on Dec. 3, 1988.
Mary was an active member of Saint James Episcopal Church and former member of its choir. Survivors include her husband, Eugene Platt; stepdaughter, Troye Platt and her husband John Chilkotowsky of Seattle, Washington; stepson, Paul Platt of San Francisco; two sisters, Barbara Bercier and her husband Charles Bercier, Jr., of Pensacola, Florida, and Joan Weaver and her husband Tim Weaver of Columbia; three nephews, Mark Weaver, Daniel Weaver, and Charles Bercier III; four nieces, Danielle Bercier, Stephanie Bercier Wilson, Miriam Bercier Wickham, and Mary Beth Weaver.
A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held at 3 p.m., April 5, at Saint James Episcopal Church.
Friends may call at J. Henry Stuhr Funeral Home, 232 Calhoun Street, between 6 and 9 p.m., April 4. The Rosary will be recited at 8 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to the church, synagogue, charity, or environmental organization of one's choice.
Mary was courageous with her recent cancer battle. She fought
one year, 7 months and 18 days from diagnosis on Aug. 3, 2001. During that
time, she was an inspiration to many, especially those close to her fighting
the same battle. She will be missed tremendously.
—Susie Hall, Department of Radiology
Mary always found the good in everything, took pride in her work
and patient care. We, in mammography were blessed to have her come
help out with patient flow as well as many other things. That is where
I got to know her heart. Mary had the ability to see the anxiety and worry
on the face of patients. When I later learned that she had breast cancer,
all I could do is weep and say it wasn't fair. It was a true gift to know
and love Mary Platt.
—Nancy Jones, retired quality control technologist, MUSC Radiologic
Mammography
Mary Platt was one of my students and became a friend. She was
a role model and an inspiration to many others dealing with cancer.
—Lilless Shilling, associate professor, Department of Health Administration
and Policy, CHP
Mary gave MUSC her all. When she was my supervisor, she would
roll up her sleeves and dive right into the work with us. I always felt
better when I came to work and her smiling face greeted me.
—Lorry Anderson, RT, West Ashley
Mary was a wonderful person and will be missed dearly. She inspired
and encouraged me to excel in all of my endeavors. I will never forgot
those times shared in diagnostic radiology and mammography. I love you
Mary! Sleep on.
—Teresa Harrison, MUSC Radiology
Mary always exemplified the best in patient care, compassion, and
was my benchmark for honesty and ethics. We were students together
in the Health Related Professions program, where she excelled in the bachelor’s
program and continuing on to complete her masters. I learned a lot from
her example of how to study, especially while working full-time and taking
call. To say that Mary was my mentor in many ways does not express what
a friend and asset she was to me and this medical community.
– Judy Hermann, MUSC’s Digestive Disease Center
I had the pleasure of working with Mary within the Radiology Department
from 1979 to 1996. Mary was always a professional, diligent, and caring
colleague who always put the needs of her patients and those she supervised
before her own. It is not surprising to me how she courageously combated
her disease over the past few years. In the middle of her debilitating
treatments in August 2001, she took the time to send me a personal note
thankful on the care she received from the staff at the Lowcountry PET
Center.
—Mike Ricciardone, director of Imaging, CareAlliance Health Services
I had the opportunity and the pleasure of working with Mary in
radiology at MUSC from 1992 through 1995. Mary set a wonderful example
of a caring, conscientious and dedicated radiologic technologist. She made
a positive impact on those individuals she worked with and the patients
she cared for, and she will be missed by all.
—Joan Wherley, director of Imaging/Roper Hospital
Mary was a very strong, sweet person that was always willing to lend
a helping hand. She was truly an “angel” that we loved and she will
surely be missed.
—Shanteisha Crabtree, MUHA Human Resources
Mary was my very special friend and I will never forget her.
—Mattie B. Englemon, MUSC Radiology
I have known Mary for more than 20 years and I will have to say she
was one of the most remarkable women I have ever met. She had such
courage during her long ordeal. We have an "old timer's" group and
we go out to eat once a month and up until the last two months she was
always there. She was smiling with an up-beat attitude, and never seemed
to "feel sorry for herself." She was quite an inspiration to all of us,
and I just hope if I ever have to face something like that I can take after
Mary. We will miss her so very much.
--C. Juanita Landreth
Department of Radiology
I had the pleasure of meeting and working with Mary Platt in 1978
as a MUSC Radiologic Technology student. From the time
I met her, and through out our professional career, I found Mary's warm
smile, pleasant nature and sincere work ethics to be a source of strength
and guidance.Not only did we bond as colleagues, we bonded as personal
friends. On so many occasions we would sit together to talk and share some
our thoughts and opinions, all the while thinking that we were solving
the problems of the world and of course the problems here at MUSC.
Afterwards we'd laugh about it all the while knowing that life and jobs
are only as fun and as good as we make it. With that we pressed on and
continued our service here at MUSC. We experienced the many changes
and transformation of our work environment and our peers literally before
our eyes. During her struggles, I often said to Mary that her strength
and vigor was a role model for me, that she was loved and that she had
touched the lives of many along the way. My thoughts and prayers will be
with you forever. Thank you for being you and allowing me to be apart of
your life.
God bless you Mary and Eugene.
--Cindy Brown, BSRT(R), Program Coordinator II, Department of Radiology
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