Jean Ferguson Platt, founding first lady of Harvey Mudd College, died on Monday, February 18, 2013 in Claremont. She was 91.

Mrs. Platt, wife of founding president and physics professor Joseph Beaven Platt, was deeply involved in the founding of HMC, helping to establish the college in the 1950s and supporting its mission in the decades that followed. A

fter leaving HMC in 1976, the Platts devoted 5 years to Claremont Graduate University as president and first lady. Mrs. Platt was also active in the Claremont community. She was an officer of Campus Women, one of the founding members of the Foothill Philharmonic and a member of the ARCS Foundation, an organization dedicated to advancing science in the United States.

In addition, she was active in the United Church of Christ, Congregational, the Red Cross and the Girl Scouts, and was deeply involved in 2 local retirement communities, Pilgrim Place and Mt. San Antonio Gardens. She also served on the board of Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden.

Mrs. Platt was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Platt, who died July 10, 2012. She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Ann Platt Walker and Richard Walker of La Jolla and Elizabeth Platt Garrow and Thomas Garrow of Willowbrook, Illinois; by her grandchildren, Stephen Cavell Walker, Jay Bradbury Walker, Jennifer Elizabeth Garrow and Erin Alexander Garrow; and by 5 great-grandchildren.