Melvin Dana Phillips

PHILLIPS, MELVIN DANA, passed away peacefully early Monday morning September 12, 2011, in the embrace of his loving family. Born November 17, 1931, Mel was a native of Southwest Harbor, Maine and son of the late Lawrence and Maude Phillips. He was educated in the public schools there and graduated from Colby College in Waterville, ME in 1954. He was a veteran who served honorably in the U.S. Army for 2 years during the Korean War. Mel joined the New York Telephone Company in 1956, and worked in various locations as an office manager for many years. He was transferred to Orlando, FL with AT&T in 1979, and retired from AT&T in 1985 with 29 years of faithful service in the Bell system. After retirement from "Ma Bell", Mel joined his wife Helen in the Orlando Real Estate community, where they remained active to the present. Mel lived a worthy and purposeful life, enriching all those he met with his wonderful sense of humor, his poems and his unique, positive outlook on life. He was a 50 year member of the Masons, a past president of the Hyde Park, NY swim & tennis club, a life time member of Rotary Club of Poughkeepsie, NY, and a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity. Mel was a voracious reader, avid golfer, history buff, patriot and philanthropist. He was active in numerous community service organizations in various leadership roles for over 30 years, most notably for the United Way, American Heart Association and Junior Achievement. He was a beloved husband, incredible father, grandfather, mentor and role model, always doing the right thing. He is survived by his beautiful bride of 52 years, the former Helen Cameron of Northeast Harbor, ME; two daughters Laura of Portland, ME, and Linda and fiancé Tim Bingham of Blue Hill, ME, one son, Coast Guard Captain Joseph and wife Laura of Lawrence, KS; and three Grandchildren, James of Orlando, and Katherine and Matthew of Lawrence, KS, as well as numerous, close-knit cousins, brother and sister in law, nephews and nieces. A memorial service to celebrate Mel's life will be held at the Church of the Ascension, 4950 S. Apopka-Vineland Road at 1 p.m. on Friday, September 16, 2011. A private remembrance for the extended family will be held on Mount Desert Island, Maine at a later time. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association in his honor.