Joseph Leon Platt

Joseph Leon Platt was born Jan. 5, 1948, in Schwandorf, Germany, to Benjamin and Genia (Tomaszewski) Platt, both of Polish origin. At the age of 2, his family arrived by ship in the United States through Ellis Island, New York. The family settled in Paterson, N.J., where Joseph, his brother Abraham, his mother, and his father would call home until moving to East Orange, N.J.

Joseph attended and graduated from Central High School where he was a member of the rifle and ski clubs, as well as a member of the marching band, in which he played trumpet. He continued his education at Fairleigh Dickinson University, Florham Park, N.J.; Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J. and Adelphi University in Manhattan, culminating in a Bachelor’s of Science in business administration and a Master’s of Science in special education.

Joseph enlisted in the United States Army and served active duty in Germany from 1971 to 1974. He continued to serve in reserve duty and was re-activated for service during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. After 25 years of service, Joseph retired from the military, having attained the rank of captain.

On July 25, 1976, Joseph united in marriage to his sweetheart, Phyllis Torrisi, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Belleville, N.J. Their union of 45 years was blessed with three children: Paul, Joseph and Jennifer. The couple made their home and raised their family in Livingston, N.J. Joseph was a special education teacher in Brooklyn, as well as an adjunct English professor at both Essex and Hudson County Community Colleges. He retired from the NY Board of Education in 2010. Joseph continued teaching at the colleges until retiring in early 2016.

While teaching in New York, Joseph developed and ran a program where he would refurbish and repurpose older school computers. He regularly transported the old hardware to his family's home in N.J., where they would be cleaned and updated by volunteer personnel and then redistributed to his students and other students of need in NYC. Joseph's program continued for over a decade and enabled hundreds of children to further engage in educational pursuits they would not have otherwise been able to partake in.

In the winter of 2016, Joseph and Phyllis moved westward to establish a new home in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, in order to be closer to their children and grandchildren. When they were not spending time in Coeur d'Alene with their children and their respective families, they'd snowbird to California where their son, Joseph, and his wife reside.

Joseph was a member of the VFW in Livingston, Coeur d’Alene, and La Habra, Calif., and was a volunteer at Liberty State Park in Jersey City.

Joseph enjoyed a full life, exploring and reveling in travelling, skiing, flying, theatre, music, painting, history, Broadway shows, philanthropy, conversation, serving his country, education- and above all else, his family. Joseph was a firm believer that education was a universal key to improving one's circumstances in life and tirelessly pursued opportunities for himself, his family, friends and acquaintances.

On March 18, 2021, Joseph Platt left this earthly plane at Kootenai Medical Center in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, at the age of 73.

Joseph will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Phyllis of Coeur d’Alene; his children, Paul (and Stephanie) Platt of Coeur d’Alene, Joseph (and Cecilia) Platt of California and Jennifer (and George) Viaud of Coeur d’Alene; six granddaughters: Isabella, Naomi, Leila, Hailey, Sydney and Zoey; a brother, Abraham (and Ann) Platt of New Jersey, and other family and friends. He was preceded by his parents, Benjamin and Genia.

Blessed and eternal be the memory of Joseph Leon Platt.

In lieu of flowers, your intentions can be recognized by donating to American Heart Association at https://tinyurl.com/joeleonplatt or to American Diabetes Association at https://www.diabetes.org/.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Monday, March 22, 2021, at Yates Funeral Home. Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. today, Tuesday, March 23, 2021, at Yates Funeral Home, 744 N. Fourth Street, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814. Interment will be at Evergreen Cemetery, 2834 N. Spokane St., Post Falls, ID 83854.

Arrangements are provided by Yates Funeral Homes. On-line registry and condolences may be found at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.