Philip W. Michelini died on January 21, 2014 at the age of 70. He was preceded in death by his wife, Britta Sundman Michelini, with whom he lived for many years in Alexandria, Virginia. Philip was born in Plymouth, the son of Dorando P. Michelini and Helen Alvezi Michelini. The family moved from Kingston to Marshfield in 1947. Philip attended local schools and went on to college at Georgetown University, graduating with a B. A. He later received an M. A. in history from the University of Wisconsin. In 1968, Philip joined the Peace Corps; he served in Sierra Leone, Africa, for three years, teaching at the university there and doing outreach in the slums of Freetown. In 1971-73, Philip became a fellow at the Joint Harvard-Tufts Fletcher School of Diplomacy, receiving a second M. A. in 1973. At Fletcher, he worked as assistant to noted historian John Lukacs, a life-long friend. In 1974, Philip joined the U. S. Department of Commerce in Washington, where he served as Specialist for Central Africa, later becoming desk officer for 36 African countries, and acting director of the East-West Africa Division. He retired in 2007, after 38 years of government service, and returned to Marshfield. Among his many interests in his retirement were traveling to historical sites, classical music, reading history, gardening, contributing to Catholic and environmental charities, following the Red Sox, and bird watching on the marshlands around his home. He enjoyed concerts at the Boston Symphony, ball games at Fenway, and entertaining friends at the Harvard Club of Boston.
A Memorial Mass will be held in Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 40 Canal St. in Marshfield on March 6, 2014 at 10:00 a.m.
Interment will be held in St. Josephs Cemetery in Kingston.