Otto Plath

Birth Name:

Otto Emil Plath

Birth Date:

April 13, 1885

Birth Place:

Grabow, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany

Death Date:

November 5, 1940

Place of Death:

92 Johnson Avenue, Winthrop, Massachusetts

Age:

Cause of Death:

Embolism in the lung and untreated diabetes

Cemetery Name:

Winthrop Cemetery

Claim to Fame:

Writers and Poets

Otto Emil Plath was a German-American writer, academic, and biologist. After reading the writings of Charles Darwin, Plath also developed an interest in biology. In the following years, Plath taught and studied in both German and biology. In 1912, he earned an M.A. from the University of Washington. Beginning in 1922, Plath taught at Boston University. In 1925, Plath earned an M.S. from Harvard University, and in 1928, he earned a Ph.D in science, also from Harvard. Plath worked as a professor of biology and German language at Boston University and as an entomologist, with a specific expertise on bumblebees. He was the father of American poet Sylvia Plath and Warren Plath, and the husband of Aurelia Plath. He wrote the 1934 book Bumblebees and Their Ways. He is notable for being the subject of "Daddy", one of his daughter's most well-known poems. Interesting to note that Otto is the only Plath to be buried at Winthrop Cemetery.

In The End ….

In 1935, shortly after the birth of his son Warren, Plath began to become ill. After inaccurately self-diagnosing his illness as lung cancer, he refused to seek medical care. In 1940, Plath saw a doctor due to an infection on his foot. It was then that the doctor diagnosed him as having an advanced case of diabetes. His leg had to be amputated in October after his foot infection was identified as gangrene. He died soon after on November 5, 1940, at his home in Winthrop, Massachusetts.

Cemetery Information:

Final Resting Place:

Winthrop Cemetery

190 Shore Road

Winthrop, Massachusetts, 02152

United States

North America

Grave Location:

Cross Street Section, Ezilya Path, Grave 1123

Grave Location Description

As you enter the cemetery through the formal gates from Cross Street, drive 100 feet and park to the side as this is the only area to park in this cemetery. Turn left and walk 300 feet towards the exit. On you right look for a path between the “Spear” and “Haley” monuments. Walk past four rows and look to your left at the first grave marker for the final resting place of the father of Sylvia Plath – Otto Plath.

Grave Location GPS

42.376218, -70.980355

Photos:

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FAQ's

Otto Plath was born on April 13, 1885.

Otto Plath was born in Grabow, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany.

Otto Plath died on November 5, 1940.

Otto Plath died in 92 Johnson Avenue, Winthrop, Massachusetts.

Otto Plath was 55.

The cause of death was Embolism in the lung and untreated diabetes .

Otto Plath's grave is in Winthrop Cemetery

Videos Featuring Otto Plath:

Sylvia Plath on Her Early Influences and Why She Became a Writer

Voices and Visions - Sylvia Plath

Lecture 54: "Electra on Azalea Path" and "The Colossus"

Watch YouTube video titled The Death of Sylvia Plath

Otto Plath