Dr. Tan Jackson Platt

COLUMBIA – Dr. Tan Jackson Platt, 73, died at his home Wednesday, August 19, 2020 surrounded by his loving family. Health and safety is of utmost importance during these difficult times. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a private funeral service will be held. All are invited to attend a live-streaming of the private service at 9:50 a.m. on Wednesday, August 26, 2020 by going to www.dunbarfunerals.com or Dunbar Funeral Home Devine’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DunbarDevine

Born on April 22, 1947 in New London, CT, he was the son of the late John Wadsworth Platt and Florence Jackson Platt.

Dr. Platt graduated from New Hartford Central School District, New Hartford, NY and received his under graduate degree in Biology from Trinity College, Hartford, CT.

He was highly active in New Hartford Central High sports – football, basketball, swimming, and track where he held the school track record for the 440-yard dash. He was the class president his senior year and was ultimately highly honored with the Athlete/Scholar Award.

He earned his Doctorate in Medicine from Columbia University-College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City-which was the same medical school his father attended. He served his residency at St. Joseph Hospital in Denver, CO where he met a lovely young social worker, Nancy Marie DiChito and 6 months later they were married.

During his long career in medicine, Dr. Platt was a member of and actively involved with many professional organizations. A short synapsis of his medical career began as a rural family physician in South Dakota with the National Health Service Corps after which he spent the next decade in private practice in New York.

He subsequently joined the faculty of the University of South Carolina School of Medicine in 1986. He served the School of Medicine as the chief contracting officer, and contributed as associate professor, vice chair, and clinic director within the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine. He has served as a medical director for the SC Department of Health and Human Services since 2008.

He has served on the SC Developmental Disabilities Council, the SC Autism Medical Advisory Committee, and the Department of Disability and Special Needs Collaborative Advisory Committee. He served as medical director of both the Babcock Center and the Epworth Children’s Home for over 20 years and of both the Burton Center and CHESCO for 16 years. He is a long-time member of the South Carolina Academy of Family Physicians, serving as President and board member, as well as being honored as “Physician of the Year” in 2010.

For his dedicated service to the medical profession and to thousands of South Carolinians whose lives have been forever impacted by him, his nomination has been sent to Governor McMaster to receive the Order of the Palmetto.

Dr. Platt enjoyed a myriad of hobbies and activities outside of medicine. Birds-Angry and otherwise, landscaping and gardening, computer solitaire and cross word puzzles, golf-mostly watching and Gamecock sports. Aside from his profession and his family, his most prized world revolved around Gamecock football. He was “Dr. #1” [in the stands] at home games for over 20 years.

During college and medical school he took every opportunity to travel – Scandinavia, Russia, Eastern Europe, Nigeria and US Appalachia. This love of travel continued throughout his life on many family sojourns or alone with his beloved wife. They traveled extensively through Europe and the United States and Mexico.

Dr. Platt is survived by his wife, Nancy DiChito Platt; daughter, Elizabeth Ann Platt; son, James Phillip Platt; grand-children, Anna Platt, Emeline Platt, Boaz Platt and Elias Platt; brother, Charles Platt and his wife, Judith Hunter of Newtown, CT and sister, Alice Selzler and her husband Michael of Easton, MD. In addition to his parents he was predeceased by his wife’s parents for whom he cared for and loved, James Anthony DiChito and Josephine Marie Vitale DiChito.

The family wishes to thank all the loving and generous people who took time to spend with him during his final months as well as for their kind words, deeds and prayers during Dr. Platt’s illness.

Please consider making a memorial contribution to one of the organizations that he devoted so much of his time and energy.

Epworth Children’s Home

2900 Millwood Ave

Columbia SC 29205

803-256-7394

https://www.epworthchildrenshome.org/give/

Babcock Center, Inc.

P.O. Box 4389

West Columbia, SC 29171

Voice: (803) 799-1970

https://www.babcockcenter.org/

Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the family.