NINA ENGEL

ENGEL--Nina Phillips, died peacefully at the age of 100 on Thanksgiving, November 27th, also the birthday of her late husband Louis Engel. The daughter of Dr. John C. Phillips of Boston and Eleanor Hyde Phillips of Bath ME, Nina was born on August 21, 1914, the month made famous by "The Guns of August" at the beginning of World War I. A descendant of a distinguished Boston family, Nina was the quintessential grande dame, but one with as much substance as style. She graduated from St. Timothy's School in Stevenson MD and studied at the Sorbonne and Sarah Lawrence before her first marriage, in 1937, to Stanley Washburn, Jr., an airline pilot. They had three children, Nancy, Nina and Stanley, III ("Brodie"). Nancy, of Gymea Bay, NSW, Australia and Brodie, of Eugene, OR survive her as do four grandchildren and two great grandchildren. She also leaves three stepsons, James (Tucumcari, NM), Thomas (New York City) and Jonathan Engel (Austin, TX). Nina returned to Sarah Lawrence in her 70s to gain her Bachelor's degree in sociology and three years later, at the age of 79, was awarded her Master's degree, also from Sarah Lawrence, in health advocacy. Active in public health her entire adult life she worked in patient screening and advocacy at many hospitals and community organizations, including St. Luke's-Roosevelt, Phelps Memorial Hospital, Westchester County Medical Center, the Ossining Drug Addiction Center and the Ossining Open Door Family Medical Center. Her long life will often be recalled by those she served for her energy in addressing the urgent public health issues of her time and her devotion to the many patients who were lucky enough to come her way. And to her family, her many younger friends and those who knew her best she will be remembered for her steady enthusiasm and sense of fun and for an elegance, ebullience and charm that will outlive her for many, many years. A memorial service will be held at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Scarborough NY at a date yet uncertain in the early part of next year. Contributions in Nina's memory may be made to the Open Door Family Medical Center, 165 Main Street, Ossining, NY 10562.