Walter N. Plaut Jr. ’70 died of a stroke on December 3, 2014, in Trescott Twp., Maine.
He was born in Stamford, Conn., on December 1, 1947, and graduated from The Lawrenceville School (Lawrenceville, New Jersey). He was a member of Alpha Delta Phi fraternity. He worked for three years as an English teacher at the Fessenden School in West Newton, Mass., before moving to Downeast Maine to become a farmer, carpenter, and woodsman. He married Suzanne Post on June 10, 1972. He is survived by his father, Walter N. Plaut Sr.
(The following obituary appeared in The Bangor Daily News online, December 11, 2014)
Walter Plaut died unexpectedly Dec. 3, 2014. Walter was born Dec. 1, 1947, in Stamford, CT.
He graduated from The Lawrenceville School, Bowdoin College and then Montclair State University at the Master’s level. He and wife, Suzanne, moved to Washington County in 1975, and he promptly started backing into parking spaces. Walter—builder of community, both literally and figuratively—constructed houses (the first being his own log cabin), and organized formal and informal community events (family softball games, Lubec playground). He served on the Whiting Volunteer Fire Dept. for 39 years, the Down East Community Hospital Board of Trustees for 9 years, and worked as an EMT/Paramedic with Downeast Emergency Medical Service for the last 11 years. Although Walter had numerous responsibilities and a long personal to-do list, he always made time to lend an ear or a hand, to help out and to share his wealth of knowledge. He felt a special duty to children, and taught Philosophy for Children in local schools, read to the pre-K class at Lubec Elementary School and helped organize the Downeast Young Authors Conference. Walter’s life was spent in service to his community; what changed over time was only the size and scope of that community.
He was predeceased by his mother, Sally Hayes Plaut. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Suzanne; their children, Ethan Plaut and Vanessa Scurci (Trescott), and Jennifer Plaut and LeRoy Danielson (Albuquerque, NM); grandchildren, Amaia Plaut and Soren and Ira Danielson; as well as his father, Walter Plaut Sr.; sister, Mary Solomon; and brothers, Howard Plaut and Andrew Plaut.
A celebration of his life will be held Saturday, December 13, at 11 a.m. at the Lubec School, with a potluck reception to follow. Please bring food, photos and memories to share. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Emergency Room Project at Down East Community Hospital (contact Julie Hixon) or the Whiting Volunteer Fire Department.