The Plata Family Memorial Fund

In Loving Memory of David Plata

To the friends and family of David Plata, it is with unbelievable sorrow that I am announcing the death of our beloved father. After a long battle with his health, David passed away on March 5, 2023, to return home to his mother, father, siblings, and God. He is survived by his two children, myself and my little brother, Cole.

Our dad was one of the most remarkable people you could have the pleasure of knowing. Always laughing and joking, Dad filled the lives of those around him with joy, no matter what he was dealing with in his world. He had a heart of gold and unwavering love for the people around him. In his 66 years on Earth, the man sure did make the most of it. Despite his trademark cowboy hat, I believe we all know that he wore many many hats throughout his life. Many of us know him as a gifted chef in the kitchen or a heroic nurse in later years. But to Cole and I, he was so much more. He was our teacher, soccer coach, driving instructor, chess opponent, and favorite playmate. He clog danced, ice sculpted, and traveled the world by sea, living in Egypt, Alaska, North Carolina, and Florida. He was never short of silly dad jokes, puns, fun facts, and truly impressive levels of snoring. Dad was the smartest guy we knew, pushing us to challenge ourselves in all areas of life and inspiring us to take life head-on. More than anything, he was an amazing father, and his absence will be felt fully and deeply as we honor his memory in his wake.

Our father’s death was sudden, unexpected, and unbelievably tragic. Although he had been fighting illnesses throughout the last year, the last we heard from him was that he was cancer free and believed he had made it through the worst. Needless to say, this man put up the strongest fight against the most terrifying series of diagnoses. We are proud to know he remained upbeat until the end, true to who he was for as long as I can remember.

That being said, the circumstances of dad’s health and long battle in and out of the hospital made it difficult for him to work or set aside funds to support his end-of-life arrangements. Cole and I are experiencing unimaginable pain at the moment, so I have organized a GoFundMe in an effort of alleviating stress related to the costs associated with this tragedy. Any donations will be used to support dad’s memorial expenses and necessities to lay him to rest. If you are willing and able, any amount would be a blessing to us right now.

Thank you all for loving our Dad the way he deserved to be loved. Knowing we are not alone in mourning such an incredible person means the world to us. Please keep our family in your prayers as we celebrate the life of David Plata.