SHREWSBURY-Philip L. Philip, PhD, 87, passed away Sunday, November 12 in the Rose Monahan Hospice House.
Dr. Phil had a tremendous basketball coaching career which included head coaching jobs at Millbury High School, Brandeis University and Algonquin High School. At Millbury High School, Coach Philip had a 54-13 win/loss record while winning two League titles and the Bay State Tournament. Coach Philip took over as Head Coach at Algonquin Regional High School in 1970. His overall record of 288 wins and 151 losses included five Midland League titles, four Clark University Tournament titles, two Central Mass Division II finalists, and one Division II State Finalist in 1984. Team play and unselfishness were trademarks of his teams. He was known as an outstanding “game strategist” by his coaching peers and was sworn into the Massachusetts Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in 1995.
Dr. Phil was a lifelong long educator, he began his career in the Millbury School System in 1957. He later taught in Wayland, Natick, Ashland, Waltham and retired from Northborough. As a school psychologist, his expertise in evaluating students, led to many success stories. In his retirement Phil was a professional basketball scout for New England colleges and universities. He also taught at Worcester State College and was a visiting lector at Framingham State College. He also had several publications in the Athletic Journal and the Exposition Press.
Dr. Phil was born in Worcester, son of Louis and Paraska (Demetry) Philip and graduated from, Classical High School and Clark University. He received his master’s degree from Worcester State College and his P.H.D. from Western Colorado University. Phil was a three sport Varsity All Star in High School and a two sport Varsity All Star in College, before leaving college for a short time to join the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was later drafted by the Cleveland Indians and was considered by the Boston Celtics but opted to follow his passion as an educator and coach.
Phil’s other true love was the game of golf. He was well known for his fabulous abilities in golf especially his short game, chipping and putting. Many years ago, Phil and his partner, Max McCarthy won the Labor Day Four Ball Tournament at Holden Hills. He was a member of various country clubs over the years through-out Worcester, including Green Hill, Sterling, Juniper Hill and Pleasant Valley Country Clubs. He was a big fan of the Legends of Golf, especially the great Ben Hogan.
He leaves a son, Gary Philip of Gloucester; a brother, Dr. James Philip; two sisters, Violet Burtt and Loretta Fantangelo and nieces and nephews. A son, Greg Philip; a sister Eleanora Gubish; two brothers, Mitchell and Andrew Philip predeceased him.
A Funeral Service will be held Wednesday, November 15 at 10AM in Saint Mary’s Assumption Albanian Orthodox Church, 535 Salisbury Street. Burial will follow in Hope Cemetery. Visiting Hours are Tuesday, November 14 from 5 to 7PM in CALLAHAN~FAY~CASWELL Funeral Home, 61 Myrtle Street. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the church.