Re: Difficult time for MARS family
 

It was a pleasure getting to talk to Phil during last year's competition season. He was extremely nice, and had a lot of fun stories to share. Here's a thanks to him for welcoming a Floridan up North during cold times. Hope all is well.

Re: Difficult time for MARS family
 

Phil's family just posted on the Facebook page that he has passed away. My heart goes out to M.A.R.S. and Phil's family, he will be missed and we share your pain.

Re: Difficult time for MARS family
 

When a team member is lost, it's a very tough thing.
When a team leader is lost, even moreso.
When a community leader is lost, it's absolutely devastating.

My condolences to Phil's family, team, and community.

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FRC Team 1501 T.H.R.U.S.T. sends it's condolences to Phil's family, friends and team.
Rest in Peace. You will be missed.

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My deepest condolences to the MARS family. RIP Phil.

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My heart goes out to Phil's family, his team, and all who knew him. May his legacy live on.

Re: Difficult time for MARS family
 

My heart goes out to Phil's family and all his friends, both in his home community and the FIRST community. I have not met Phil personally, but my team has had many opportunities to work with MARS and it is always a pleasure. He will be missed by many. Rest in peace Phil and may your legacy live on.

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It is with a heavy heart that I report that Phil passed away late last night/early morning. He was surrounded by his family and friends and passed peacefully. He is survived by his daughter Haley (MARS founding class alumnus), wife Doris, and sister Carolyn.

His impact was truly remarkable in our community, not just for MARS and FIRST, but with everyone he met. His passing has left a tremendous hole that will never quite be filled, and we thank once again the FIRST community and MARS family for their support in these hard times.

I love you uncle Phil. We all love you.

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The world lost a great man. Phil worked passionately to promote FIRST robotics. He especially cared about helping those students and teams that had fewer resources and less privilege become long term successes. He would meet new people wherever we went, and he would get a couple of our team students and say "Come over here and talk to these folks about Legos." Phil planted a lot of seeds that grew into FLL teams that way. For FRC regional competitions, he had the list of rookie teams way ahead of time, and would contact them to see what they needed, and what we could bring to help them. Deploying our students and mentors to their pits at the competition, he would not rest until a struggling team had a working robot and got to experience the thrill of making it work and playing on the field.

For those that are close enough to Morgantown, the funeral arrangements are being done by Dering-Henson Funeral Home. The information posted so far:

Visitation will be Sunday, August 30, 2015 from 5-8 p.m. , Monday, August 31, 2015 from 5-9 p.m., and one hour prior to the 11:00 a.m. service on Tuesday, September 1, 2015.

Attached is one of many pictures of Phil doing what he did best.

Re: Difficult time for MARS family
 

Phil was an inspiration to me and to our team. A couple of years ago at Smoky Mountains Regional, I asked Phil what his favorite moment of the season was so far. Without hesitation, he began to tell me about a hush puppy tossing/catching/eating contest that had developed rather spontaneously the night before at a local barbecue place during a team meal. Eventually the cooks brought out fresh game pieces so the contest could continue. He said that while MARS has banners, ribbons and trophies, and works hard to earn more, they also have fun. And he wouldn't trade a hush puppy contest for any number of banners. He will be missed.