Philip P. Meiman

Phil Meiman 'hiked home to God' on his 77th birthday, May 16th, 2010, surrounded by his family, and the love of countless friends and former students. Born in Covington, KY, Phil grew up in New Orleans and Chicago, as one of four children. Phil Meiman served in the U.S. Army Intelligence from 1955-1958, earned his Bachelor's degree at Loyola University, his Master's at Fairfield University and his post-graduate degree at Southern CT State and Dartmouth. He met his wife, Kay, while teaching in Texas and they settled in Fairfield, CT to raise their family, and teach in the Fairfield Schools for thirty-two years. He will be dearly missed by his wife Kathryn, his daughters and their families: Mary Kay and David Kenney, and their sons Philip and Sam, of Jacksonville, FL, Anne and Tim Hughes of Sharon, CT, Susan Meiman of Andover, CT, Meg and George Layton and their children George and Kathryn, of Nokesville, VA and Betsy and Richard Parker of Milford, CT. Phil is also survived by his brothers Joe and George, his sister Rosemary, O.S.U., and a great abundance of nieces, nephews and extended family and students, who affectionately remember "Uncle Phil". His legacy was championing social justice and peace issues ahead of his time, and co-leading one of the longest-running alternative outdoor education programs in the US (Whole Earth Learning) at Roger Ludlowe High School for eighteen years, and also as Biology teacher for Fairfield's high schools. He was the 1983 Jaycees recipient of Teacher of the Year Award, appointed to the Conservation Commission of Fairfield from 1997-2007 (Chair from '05-'07), and served on the Mill River Wetlands Committee. Like the Lorax, Phil spoke for the trees, and inspired many others to value and care for the earth and its gifts. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Pius X Church, 834 Brookside Drive, Fairfield. A Celebration of Life reception/refreshments will follow the Mass. Interment will be private. Friends may call Friday from 4-8 p.m. in the Spear-Miller Funeral Home, 39 South Benson Road, Fairfield. In lieu of flowers, family has requested donations that support additional research towards a cure for Multiple Myeloma be made in Phil Meiman's name to Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF): go to www.tinyurl.com/PhilMeiman or MMRF at 383 Main Ave 5th Floor, Norwalk, CT 06851. For information or to sign an online guest book please visit www.SpearMillerFuneralHome.com.