Philip Allen Dee

1920 - 2019

Dee, Philip Allen
Philip Allen Dee passed away on Thursday, June 21, 2019. He was born in Columbus, Ohio on July 7, 1920, the only child of Manning and Martha Dee.
His early years were spent between Detroit Michigan and Albany, New York. After graduating from Albany Academy, he went to Syracuse University to pursue a degree in Electrical Engineering graduating in 1953. While living in Syracuse, he made lifelong friends whom became his family while they worked together in the University's audio-visual department.
While in the US Air Force, Phil was stationed in Florida and Alaska and was in charge of airborne fire control, cold weather testing and development of tow targets. After his discharge as a Captain, he returned to Syracuse and was hired at General Electric Company where he was a research and development engineer for a test facility for the Atlas guidance system. He reluctantly traveled to Santa Barbara for GE and after several trips he was sold on the California lifestyle. Obtaining a transfer to General Electric, TEMPO division Phil was loaned to the French Space agency to conduct reliability analysis of the Coralie second stage of the Europa missile.
Mission Research was his next assignment evaluating and developing Police and Fire Communication systems for fire and natural disaster control for many California cities.
As much as he loved Santa Barbara, in 1974, Rockwell International made him an offer he could not refuse. The position as Manager of European Marketing was his dream job. Being fluent in German was a help in this position which he held for ten years. After retiring in 1990, he substituted taught for the Los Angeles County Court Schools and Walnut Valley Unified School District.
Being on the water was his favorite place and after purchasing a sail boat, he began to teach boating safety for the United States power squadron. Phil was most proud of his Coast Guard Captain's license. With this he was able to drive a glass bottom boat for a summer in Avalon, Catalina island. A portion of every year was spent cruising to Two Harbors on Catalina Island aboard the sailboat Purrserverance .
Phil's idea of a great meal was a dry martini with three drops of vermouth and a prime rib dinner. He had a quick wit and could quote Shakespeare and was known to sing operatic aria's on occasion.
He will be missed by his family: wife, Judie Dee; step daughter, Maura Bagdasarian of Burleson, TX; step son, Gary Bagdasarian of Stanton, CA; and grandson, Braydon Bagdasarian.
A celebration of his life will take place on Friday, July 5, 2019 at 11:00 am at the Placentia Round Table's Women's Club house located at 901 N. Bradford Ave, Placentia, CA. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to an animal charity of your choice or St. Jude's Hospital Fullerton Foundation designating funds for the Pulmonary Rehabilitation program.