Obituary: Wendy Jane Hawley Platt, 69, Of North Haven

NORTH HAVEN, CT — (From Beecher & Bennett Funeral Home): Wendy Jane Hawley Platt, 69, of North Haven, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 29, 2022 at Connecticut Hospice, Branford with her family by her side.

Wendy was the beloved wife of 41 years to William T. Platt, Jr. Wendy was born in New Haven on July 23, 1953 and was the daughter of the late Jeanette K. and George R. Hawley. In addition to her husband, Wendy leaves her sister Nancy and her husband Thomas Neeley; mother-in-law Patricia Platt; sister-in-law Karen and her husband Scott Ripa; and brother-in-law Brad Platt. She also leaves her niece Kelly (Ripa) and her husband Joseph Valenti and their 2 children and her nephew Adam Ripa and his wife Emma and their 3 children.

Wendy spent the majority of her life as a member of the Quinnipiac University (QU) family. Wendy graduated from Quinnipiac with a bachelor’s degree in History and French (minor in German) in 1975, receiving the President’s Scholarship Prize awarded to the graduate with the highest scholastic standing in her graduating class.

After graduation, Wendy joined the staff in 1976 as assistant registrar. In 1997, she was promoted to associate registrar, a position she held until she retired after a 46-year career at QU.

In reflecting on Wendy’s passing Dr. Judy Olian, QU President noted, “Throughout her time at QU, Wendy was beloved by her colleagues and by the students she assisted because of her kind and caring devotion, and her extraordinary professionalism in solving sometimes complex challenges faced by our students in planning their curricula.”

In 1974 Wendy also met her husband Bill at Quinnipiac University while he was a student. As a couple they maintained a close relationship with many members of the Quinnipiac family throughout their married life. Wendy and Bill enjoyed traveling together during their 41-year marriage and made many friends along the way. Favorite locations included Newport, RI, St. John, USVI and Detroit, MI. Their travels often centered around automotive related events, such as the Detroit and New York Car Shows, many Concours d’Elegance, auto museums and sports car races. They also enjoyed trips to Hampstead NC to visit her sister Nancy and her husband Tom, as well as trips centered on visiting historic homes (Gilded Age Mansions) and gardens.

Wendy also enjoyed gardening and completing the New York Times Crossword Puzzle every day. Beginning as a child Wendy was also a cat lover, a love that continued though her whole life.

The family wants to thank the many health care professionals that cared for Wendy over the past couple of years with special thanks to Tara Gordon, Jennifer Grasso-Torlish, Laurie Jambor, Amy Villano, Robin Esposito and Sylvia Avila.

At the family’s request, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Quinnipiac University or a charity of your choice.

For more information and to leave online condolences, visit Beecher & Bennett Funeral Home here.