Platt Rogers Safford

A modest, courageous, good-hearted, and dry-witted man of integrity died May 29, 2018, enfolded within the circle of his loving family, following two years of cancer treatments. Platt Rogers Safford of Kent was born June 12, 1950, son of the late Louis O. and Margery Rogers of Cleveland Heights. He attended Hawkins School before graduating from Mercersburg Academy in PA, which was one of the three most beloved and formative experiences of his life. Later, after graduation from Rutgers College (he would also receive an MBA from Baldwin Wallace), his second major life-shaping occurred when he became a First Lieutenant in the US Marine Corps. His children loved his stories of life lived within these two male bastions of boarding school and the military.
The third and most lasting life experience began with his marriage to Lisa Bixenstine in 1989, a union that produced three adored and adoring children: Gabriel (Robyn), Audrey, and Anthony, to whom he passed his love of literature, multiple genres of music, theater, film, global travel, playing and watching sports, golf, sailing, fishing, tennis, rowing and running. He long worked at Westinghouse, and eventually attained the position of Vice President of Manufacturing at Kobelco in Hudson before shifting course to become a financial investment advisor.
Along with wife and children, he is survived by his sister Esther and brother Tom, many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends, and beloved parents-in-law Ed and Anita Bixenstine, all of whom appreciated his sometimes stubborn and contrarian streak, amusing anecdotes, sharp intellect, and quirky traits. He was a breed apart and will be deeply missed. In his Final Wishes he wrote: "remember me as a man with many faults who learned to love a beautiful wife and children with every ounce of his being."
Funeral will be held 4:00 PM Saturday, June 2 at Christ Episcopal Church,118 South Mantua Street, Kent, where calling hours will be held from 2:00 PM until the time of service. Donations in his name may be made to the Cleveland VA Hospital, the American Cancer Society, or your local food bank.