Milton Piatok

Milton Piatok, 92, of Renton, Washington passed away on September 27, 2022, after undergoing emergency surgery for a sudden illness.  Milton was born on August 14,1930, in Chelsea, Massachusetts to Chaim and Martha Piatok.  He had one older brother, Murray Piatok, with whom he was very close.  He loved his parents and brother dearly.  He enjoyed sharing stories of his childhood in the Boston area during the Great Depression and spoke nostalgically of growing up in a loving extended family with many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

In 1948, Milton graduated from Revere High School, where he was voted "Most Intelligent" by his peers.  He attended Northeastern University, where he worked in the co-op program to pay his way through college.  After graduating with a bachelor's degree from Northeastern, he earned a master's degree in mathematics from Oklahoma State University.

After returning to Boston, he met Susan White at a dance, and they were married in 1958.  They had 4 children together: David, Paulette, Charles, and Robert.  While working for Lincoln Laboratory at MIT, Milton was recruited by the Boeing company and the family eventually settled in the Seattle area.  Milton had a distinguished, 40-year career in aerospace engineering and management, earning many accolades for his work.

Family was Milton's priority, and he went above and beyond to actively participate in the lives of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  With his very distinctive and impeccable penmanship, he sent handwritten cards to family members for all birthdays, holidays, and other occasions, and delighted in attending his grandchildren's sporting events, plays, concerts, science fairs, graduations, and other events.  He was not shy about showing his love and affection and was famous for his big hugs.  As the patriarch of the family, he lived a life of integrity, leading by example.  Milton met Linda Panitz in the 1980s, and they shared a loving partnership for 35 years until his death.

Milton was an accomplished and devoted horseman, caring lovingly for his horses and serving as president of the Boeing Saddle Club for many years.  He was a skilled artist, excelling in drawing, pastel, and jewelry making.  He began playing the drums in his youth and joined a Scottish Highland marching band in his fifties.  He loved growing fruit trees and built a small orchard on Whidbey Island, Washington.  As a fisherman, he enjoyed the excursions into nature and the companionship with his sons more than the fishing itself.

Milton is survived by his life partner, Linda Panitz, and his former spouse Susan Piatok; his sons, David (Arlene) Piatok, Charles (Tammy) Piatok, and Robert (Sandy) Piatok; his grandchildren Michael (Brooke) Voltz, Marissa Piatok, Yosef Messina, David (Tatyana) Messina, Benjamin Messina, Rachel Piatok, Joshua Piatok, Hannah Piatok, and Jacob Piatok; great-grandchildren Ethan Messina, Mason Messina, and Mia Messina; nephew Eddie Piatok and nieces Ellen Levenson and Debbie (Nate) Walker.  He was predeceased by his parents and brother, and by his daughter, Paulette Messina.

A funeral service was held at Home of Peace cemetery in Lakewood, Washington, on September 30, 2022.

Donations in Milton's memory may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation , Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center , and Pilchuck Veterinary Hospital (360-889-8703).