Platt, Arthur

NAME: Arthur Platt

Biography: Arthur H. Platt of Butterworth Road, Royalston, Mass., died Monday {Sept. 12, 1992) in his home following a long illness. He was 45.

He was the founder and former owner of Countryside Realty and Quabbin Management in Athol and Orange. He was widely recognized for his accomplishments in promoting economic revitalization in the North Quabbin Region.

He helped revive a regional Chamber of Commerce in 1982, becoming its president, and was honored as the chamber's Citizen of the Year in 1985. On that occasion, U.S. Rep. Silvio Conte described Platt as "a real dynamo, a great asset to this community."

In 1985, Platt was named by Gov. Michael Dukakis to the board of directors of the Massachusetts Thrift Fund. He has also served for several years as a member of the board of directors of AIDS Project Worcester.

In May of this year, Platt was awarded the North Quabbin Chamber of Commerce's first economic development award, to be named for him in the future. On accepting the award, presented by U.S. Rep. John Olver, Platt informed the gathering that he had AIDS and he urged the Chamber to undertake a serious program of education and outreach to combat the spread of AIDS.

He was born in Philadelphia, the son of Irvin Platt and the late Charlotte Platt. He attended Philadelphia public schools and received a bachelor's degree from Temple University. He was a student activist in the late 196Os at Temple. He was a key figure in the establishment and operation of two alternative newspapers, the Temple Free Press and the Philadelphia Plain Dealer, which opposed U.S. policy in Vietnam and sought to promote racial equality.

He was a coordinator of youth activities for the National Conference of Christians and Jews.

He lived for a short time in San Francisco and relocated to Westwood, Mass., in 1971, moving to Royalston in 1973.

He was part owner of the Butterworth Corp., street map publishers.

He started Countryside Realty in 1977 in Orange in a one-room rented office at Our Daily Bread Food Cooperative, of which Platt was a member. Countryside grew to become the largest real estate enterprise in the area, with a large sales force and annual sales of several million dollars in the mid-1980s. Platt contracted with the town of Orange to serve as exclusive agent for the industrial park adjacent to the Orange Municipal Airport.

In order to attract Huntington Homes to Orange, however, he became involved as a promoter and investor, and finally as president of the firm. He resigned that position and shortly thereafter Huntington Homes was compelled by the economic downturn to close its Orange plant .

Housing rehabilitation and management, utilizing state, federal and private funding, were important aspects of Platt's business. He helped spearhead the rehabilitation of the historic Pequoig Hotel and became broker and management agent. Through Mt. Grace Realty, Inc., Platt was owner or part owner of several downtown buildings in Orange and Athol, all of which required considerable rehabilitation. These include the Putnam Block and Cooke Court projects in Orange and the Cook Building in Athol, which became the new headquarters of Countryside Realty.

He was a licensed real estate appraiser, former board member of the Franklin County Board of Realtors, North Worcester County Board of Realtors, Greater Orange-Athol Industrial Development Corp., and North Quabbin Health Plan.

He was part owner of the former Sportsplex in Orange.

Countryside Realty was sold to Foster-Healy Real Estate a few years ago.

Soon after arriving in Royalston, Platt became interested in preserving the rural character of the community and protecting the historic town common. He served as chairman of the town's planning board and helped author the zoning by-laws and the historic district by-laws.

He was active in the Democratic Party in Massachusetts.

His work as a community activist and businessman was summarized in several newspaper features: "From Rebellion to Real Estate," in the Boston Globe, Nov. 26, 1978; "When You're Completely Down, There's No Place to Go But Up," in the Central Massachusetts Business Digest, January 1985; and "Arthur Platt is the Catalyst for Making Things Happen," in the Worcester Gazette, Feb. 9, 1985.

Platt's long-time companion, John C. Burton, died in 1991.

Survivors include his father, Irvin Platt of Philadelphia; his sister, Sandra Platt of Lynwood, N.J.; two nieces, Carol Fantazzi of Lynwood and Tracy Harrison of Philadelphia; and a nephew, Michael Harrison, of Greenfield, Mass.

Following cremation, there will be a memorial service at Temple Israel, corner of Walnut and Union streets in Athol, at 11 a.m. on Thursday, with James Levinson, spiritual leader, presiding. In lieu of flowers, family and friends have suggested that memorial contributions be made to AIDS Project Worcester, 305 Shrewsbury St., Worcester MA 01604.

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