| Herbert Philpott |
| 12/25/2014 |
 | |||||
|
Herbert John Philpott, 81, of Waltham, died on December 25, 2014, at the Stanley R. Tippet Hospice Home in Needham, MA. He was born on September 3, 1933, in Medford, Massachusetts, the son of the late Herbert F. and Martha M. Philpott. Mr. Philpott lived in Waltham since 2013, and previously lived in Boston and Canton, Massachusetts. He was the husband of the late Sandra Simpson Philpott, whom he married on April 16, 1960. Herb Philpott received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Music from Boston University. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1956 where he played in and led the Army band at Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico; and joined the music faculty of Brookline High School in 1958 as band director and teacher of instrumental music. He was the director of music at Waltham High School from 1963-1967, and served as the Dean of the Boston Conservatory from 1967-1977. He also worked as an arts administrator in the Franklin and Concord public school systems. He served as President of the Massachusetts Music Educators Association from 1969-1971, and was a life member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the professional music fraternity. As a professional trombone player, Mr. Philpott regularly played in big bands at the Totem Pole Ballroom and Blinstrub’s nightclub in Boston, in the orchestra at the Shubert and Colonial Theaters in Boston, and at the Cape Cod Melody Tent. He directed the Boston Brass Ensemble, providing ceremonial music for Boston-area colleges for three decades. Mr. Philpott was a member and Eucharistic lay reader at Trinity Episcopal Church in Canton, serving on the Vestry and as Senior Warden of the church. He was a Master Mason, having joined the craft at the B.U. Lodge in 1971, and later affiliated with Garden City Lodge in Newtonville, MA, in 2000 when his son Herb joined the fraternity. As an undergraduate, he served as the president of his college fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon, and was a dedicated alumni volunteer, having served as secretary and president of the alumni board for many years. Mr. Philpott is survived by his eldest son, Herbert F. Philpott and his wife Sandra of Waltham, MA; a daughter, Hollis (Holly) S. Costa and her husband James of Dedham, MA; a daughter-in-law, Pauline Belmontet-Philpott of Toulouse, France, wife of his son, the late Glen S. Philpott; and seven grandchildren: Rosemary, Kayla, Valentine, Troy, Emma, Ryan, and Kathryn. Visiting hours at the Dockray & Thomas Funeral Home 455 Washington St. Canton Saturday January 3rd from 4 to 7 pm. A funeral service will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1 Blue Hill River Road, Canton, MA, on Sunday, January 4, at 1:00PM. Friends are invited to attend. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider a donation to The Shriners Hospitals for Children (http://shrinershospitalsforchildren.org ), 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa FL 33607 (800-241-GIFT). | |||||
 |
