William Rupert Platt

William (Bill) Rupert Platt passed away peacefully, with family at his side, on December 9, 2017. He was 82. Preceded in death by his parents, Rupert G. Platt and Ruth Begley Frederich and his wife of 55 years, Jan Kaminis Platt, he is survived by their son Kevin Platt, his wife, Michele, and their daughter Emma.

Bill was born in Cynthiana, Kentucky on August 26, 1935. He grew up fishing in nearby streams and working on neighbors’ farms. At an early age, Bill learned the value and reward from hard work. It was during this time that he learned the work ethic that stayed with him throughout his life. Never one to take shortcuts, Bill always wanted things done correctly.

Bill was a graduate of Harrison County High School, class of 1953. He received his BA degree from the University of Kentucky, where he majored in music and was a member of the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. After graduation, Bill served in the US Air Force from 1959 – 1964, where he achieved the rank of Captain. While in the air force, he was selected to become a member of the Strategic Air Command and flew B-47 Bombers all over the world. It was while he was stationed at MacDill Air Force Base that he met the love of his life, Jan Kaminis. They met on a blind date and married in 1962. For 55 years, they were each other’s best friend and biggest supporter.

After his military service, Bill made the decision to go to law school. He received his JD degree from Vanderbilt University Law School in 1967. After graduating, he returned to Tampa and went to work in the Trust Department at the Marine Bank. He left to become a member of the Gibbons, Tucker, and McEwen Law Firm before embarking on a career as a solo practitioner that spanned decades. Bill’s practice focused on the area of real property, probate and trusts. He was a member of the Hillsborough County Bar Association, and The Florida Bar, and was active in its Real Property Probate and Trust Law (RPPTL) Section serving on its executive council. He was also a fellow in the American College of Trust and Estate Council (ACTEC). Over the years, he became very good friends with many colleagues across the state of Florida and enjoyed attending annual meetings at the Breakers, often bringing his family with him.

Bill was actively involved in a number of organizations, including The Military Affairs Council, The Exchange Club of Tampa, and the Girl Scouts. He was a member of the University Club and the Tampa Yacht and Country Club.

An accomplished musician, Bill loved everything from opera to jazz. For years he played the trumpet in the Old Smoothies, a band composed of lawyers, doctors and businessmen. Most importantly however, Bill was dedicated to his family. He loved the water, and vacations were often spent in Boca Grande, Crystal River, Cedar Key and various islands in the Bahamas. Many weekends were spent at soccer fields across the Tampa Bay area watching his granddaughter Emma play soccer. Emma was the shining light of Bill and Jan’s life, and they would adjust their schedule immediately when a chance arose to have a weekend spend-the-night or a lunch/dinner date with her. Bill and Emma shared a love for ice cream (any and all flavors) and for the Ukulele. In recent years, they could both be found strumming at the Ukulele jams at the Jan Kaminis Platt library.

Bill is also survived by his sisters, Janice Platt Herrington (Ed) of Cynthiana, KY and Freda Platt Walters (Art) of Lexington, KY, as well as many loving cousins, nieces, nephews, and grand nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at St John’s Episcopal Church, 906 S Orleans Ave., Saturday, December 16th at 11:00 AM. Visitation will be held at the Blount & Curry Funeral Home – 605 S MacDill Ave., Thursday December 14, from 5:00 – 7:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, please remember Bill with a memorial contribution to the Girl Scouts of West Central Florida (www.gswcf.org) or the Friends of the Library of Tampa-Hillsborough County (www.hcplc.org or c/o Jan Platt Library – 3910 S Manhattan Ave., Tampa, Fl 33611.