Philip (Phil) B. Hart, 80, who devoted much of his life to teaching and advocating for others, died at his home in Newport, New Hampshire, on December 28, 2025.
Born in Brooklyn, NY, and raised in Ansonia, Connecticut, Phil was the son of William B. Hart and Christine (Ballantyne) Hart. He is survived by his brothers William B. Hart Jr. and James F. Hart; his nephew James Hart; nieces Halliday and Hawthorne; and many friends.
As a boy, Phil and his brothers worked at Hart's "five and dime" store in Seymour, Connecticut, owned by their father, who had served in the FBI and later as director of Mowglis School of the Open in Hebron, NH, from the 1960s through the 1980s. Phil's appreciation for the outdoors was shaped at Mowglis, where he spent summers with his brothers Jim and Bill before becoming a counselor himself and a long-time assistant director with his father.
Phil began his career as a professor and congregational minister in the 1970s. After earning a Master of Divinity from Hartford Seminary, he was ordained in the United Church of Christ (UCC) and founded the United Campus Ministry at what was then Plymouth State College in Plymouth, NH.
In addition to his work as campus minister—which included counseling students, providing grief support during crises, campus speaking events, and a Thanksgiving food drive that continues today—Phil served as advisor to the student newspaper, The Clock.
Phil taught in the philosophy department at "PSC" for nearly four decades, offering courses that crossed traditional disciplinary boundaries. His subject matter and intimate teaching style occasionally drew disapproval from department chairs, but his courses were among the college's most popular. Titles included Sex and Death, Personal Mythology, Intro to God, Women in Religion, Religion in America, and Sexual Ethics.
As a professor, Phil showed genuine concern for the individual, encouraging others to think for themselves, always with a dry sense of humor. Whether in the basement of Mary Lyons or later in Hyde Hall, his office was open to those seeking advice or reassurance.
Phil devoured books, played piano, and knew the words to countless hymns, which he sometimes sang spontaneously. He was also a writer; his poetry and short stories were playful, transgressive, and marked by intimacy, compassion, and humor.
He loved meandering road trips across the United States and Mexico, as well as sitting quietly on his porch with a White Russian or iced tea on summer nights.
Those who knew and were loved by Phil knew they were listened to and cared for. He took deep interest in others' experiences and ideas and was a source of comfort and understanding in difficult times. He will be missed by many.
Born in Brooklyn, NY, and raised in Ansonia, Connecticut, Phil was the son of William B. Hart and Christine (Ballantyne) Hart. He is survived by his brothers William B. Hart Jr. and James F. Hart; his nephew James Hart; nieces Halliday and Hawthorne; and many friends.
As a boy, Phil and his brothers worked at Hart's "five and dime" store in Seymour, Connecticut, owned by their father, who had served in the FBI and later as director of Mowglis School of the Open in Hebron, NH, from the 1960s through the 1980s. Phil's appreciation for the outdoors was shaped at Mowglis, where he spent summers with his brothers Jim and Bill before becoming a counselor himself and a long-time assistant director with his father.
Phil began his career as a professor and congregational minister in the 1970s. After earning a Master of Divinity from Hartford Seminary, he was ordained in the United Church of Christ (UCC) and founded the United Campus Ministry at what was then Plymouth State College in Plymouth, NH.
In addition to his work as campus minister—which included counseling students, providing grief support during crises, campus speaking events, and a Thanksgiving food drive that continues today—Phil served as advisor to the student newspaper, The Clock.
Phil taught in the philosophy department at "PSC" for nearly four decades, offering courses that crossed traditional disciplinary boundaries. His subject matter and intimate teaching style occasionally drew disapproval from department chairs, but his courses were among the college's most popular. Titles included Sex and Death, Personal Mythology, Intro to God, Women in Religion, Religion in America, and Sexual Ethics.
As a professor, Phil showed genuine concern for the individual, encouraging others to think for themselves, always with a dry sense of humor. Whether in the basement of Mary Lyons or later in Hyde Hall, his office was open to those seeking advice or reassurance.
Phil devoured books, played piano, and knew the words to countless hymns, which he sometimes sang spontaneously. He was also a writer; his poetry and short stories were playful, transgressive, and marked by intimacy, compassion, and humor.
He loved meandering road trips across the United States and Mexico, as well as sitting quietly on his porch with a White Russian or iced tea on summer nights.
Those who knew and were loved by Phil knew they were listened to and cared for. He took deep interest in others' experiences and ideas and was a source of comfort and understanding in difficult times. He will be missed by many.
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