Name: Memorial service for Phillip Henry Ginsberg
Start: 2018-09-23T18:00:00.000Z
Location: Butterworth Funeral Home - Arthur A Wright Chapel & Queen Anne Columbarium

Phillip Henry Ginsberg

Phillip Ginsberg was born in New York City on May 1, 1939 to Benedict and Adele Ginsberg and died September 15, 2018.

After graduating from Princeton and completing his law studies at Harvard he moved to Chicago IL to work at Legal Aid and teach at the University of Chicago. In 1970 he moved to Seattle to run the felony division of the Public Defender office before moving into private practice.

Phil was always a champion for civil rights. He was the long-time co-chair of the King County Bar Association's MLK Luncheon and won the 2013 Washington State Bar Association Professionalism Award. As a lawyer, he represented marginalized people, civil rights activists, people seeking asylum, and so many others fighting for a more just world. He helped develop the Defender Association into one of the top public defender organizations in the country and later served on its board. He spearheaded the successful effort to make the International District Rotary Club one of the first rotary clubs in the world to include women.In recent years, he organized a conference dedicated to understanding and contesting Islamophobia, and he developed interfaith coalitions committed to cultivating tolerance and celebrating diversity. He worked to try to stop the genocide in Darfur. He was a shining example of engaged citizenship for his family and community.

He had a love of learning and shared that love with his family and the world. Phil delighted in conversation and was a great listener. He was a life-long tennis player, Mariners fan, and cat and dog lover. Phil made great use of Seward Park during his decades in south Seattle, enjoying jogging around the loop and epic battles on its tennis courts. He also had a love of music and singing, especially "Rock of Ages" and "Danny Boy". He traveled internationally with family throughout his life. He was a loyal friend, and his wit and good humor improved the lives of everyone who knew him.

He was a loving father to Clare Megathlin (Mark), Raphael Ginsberg (Emily Coward), Alicia Ginsberg, and Gina Ginsberg, a devoted grandfather to Benjamin Megathlin, Garret Megathlin, Aidan Megathlin, Sydney Ginsberg, and Emil Ginsberg, and loving sibling to Judith Ginsberg (Paul LeClerc).

A memorial service will be held on September 23rd at 11AM at the Arthur Wright Chapel at Butterworth Funeral Home. A reception will follow the service.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to the ACLU of Washington. Sign Phil's online

Guest Book at www.Legacy.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Seattle Times from Sep. 18 to Sep. 19, 2018.

Memories and Condolences
for Phillip Ginsberg

Sponsored by The Family.

32 Entries

November 5, 2018

I just found out about Phil's passing. I've been traveling out of the country. Phil was one of the nicest, engaging and thoughtful people I've known. He was a true leader in supporting those who were the weakest in our community. He was the kind of person that made me want to be a better person. I'll miss him greatly. Nick Licata

Leo Clarke

November 2, 2018

Phil was an amazingly charitable man, both toward individuals and toward society. I worked with him in the early 1990s and retained him as my lawyer several times. He always showed great personal interest in me and in my family, and he introduced me to wonderful people and great causes. Phil had a great ecumenical interest in religion and a devotion to peace and justice that was inspiring and challenging.

I pray that the face of the Lord is shining on him now, and that his wonderful family takes comfort in a life well-lived.

LC

October 29, 2018

Reiko Callner

October 8, 2018

Condolences to the Ginsberg family and friends. Phil represented the Commission on Judicial Conduct for several cases. He was capable, dependable, and a true gentleman.

Michelle

October 3, 2018

So sorry for the passing of Mr. Ginsberg. May the family have many prayers of loving support and the peace of God.

Kit & Bonnie Megathlin

September 24, 2018

The Ginsberg family, family friends and the whole Seattle community lost a wonderful father and grandfather, a loyal friend, and a champion for the discriminated against, the underserved, and the falsely accused. As has been said he not only talked the talk, he walked the walk. He loved to talk on different current affairs and his positions were always well thought out. He didn't,always take the popular position, but it was always a well researched and thought out position. Phil we loved our times with you and you will be sorely missed.Kit

Audrey Hunt

September 24, 2018

From the first moment I met Phil, he supported me and couraged me to follow my dreams. He is an inspiration to myself and many others. He always had something interesting to contribute to a conversation and listened with such compassion. I am so glad that I got to know such a wonderful person who welcomed me into his life with open arms.

Kathleen Petrich

September 22, 2018

My deepest condolences to the entire Ginsberg family. Phil was a special and dear friend of mine. We shared deep conversations over many meals, although the last meal together was at the end of July 2017 right before we moved away from Seattle. I loved his strong sense of social justice and "doing good." May we all continue his good work.

Beth and Lenny Kashner

September 22, 2018

Lenny and I first met Phil, Clare and Raphael at Temple Beth Am in 1982. Our son Max and Raphael were the same age and we lived a few blocks from each other in the Seward Park Neighborhood. Raphael and Max became good friends, both went to Religion school at Beth Am and to Whitworth Elementary, so there was a lot of carpooling. Just recently Lenny had a stroke and is in rehab at Kline Galland. By chance Phil was two doors down the hall. What a way to meet up again. We joined him for breakfast in the dining room everyday, and Phil was as charming, thoughtful and intellectually bright as ever as ever, even though he was so sick. He proudly told us all about his children and grandchildren. Reading his obituary makes me admire him all the more for all he has contributed to the world.

Carolyn and James Hunt

September 22, 2018

We are so very sorry to learn of the passing of such a wonderful father and grandfather. It was such pleasure to meet him at Ben's graduation from Union. Know that he made a difference in everyone's life.
With sympathy,
Carolyn and James Hunt

George Guttmann

September 21, 2018

Phil was thoughtful, kind, asked good questions, he was not afraid to take measured stances about important issues, he was a mench!

Rosellen Monter

September 21, 2018

I met Phil in 1959 after hearing our AFS foreign student sing his praises for a year. We met again in college, then again after he moved to Chicago. He taught me to kayak a few years ago on a visit to Seattle. Always fun, always earnestly searching and working towards a more just and equitable world. Would that there were more who had those wonderful qualities! The world will be poorer without him and I'm sure glad I had the pleasure of his friendship.

Morris and Gail Rosenberg

September 21, 2018

Phil had it all: love, pride and loyalty to his family,great intellect, empathy, commitment to social justice that he acted on,and so much more. He will be sorely missed.

Cara Kuhlman

September 20, 2018

My thoughts are with the Ginsberg family. I know through Gina's stories and admiration of Phil he was one-of-a-kind and a passionate person. Learning more about Phil, I am inspired by his life and energy. I hope others are too and he is remembered in both words and actions. Sincerely, Cara.

Robin Kanev

September 20, 2018

We were so honored to have Phil officiate at our wedding ceremony. He spent his life fighting for everything we believe in. Thoughts and condolences to everyone who loved him.

September 20, 2018

Our thoughts and condolences are with the whole Ginsberg family. Peter and Karen Tavlin

ken KANEV

September 20, 2018

Best of all he was a citizen of the world who tried (and did) make a difference. A true mensch. Here's to you Phil.

John E Bates

September 19, 2018

I first met Phil through business and from that we developed a friendship. While we always didn't see things the same I still learned a great deal from him and appreciated his insight. A true gentleman. I am sorry Nancy and I won't be able to attend the memorial as we are leaving for Europe on the 22nd. All the best to his family and our prayers are with you.
John & Nancy Bates

Lish Whitson

September 19, 2018

A good man and a dear friend. You will be sorely missed. Lish Whitson

Margaret Lemberg

September 19, 2018

Hard to imagine the world without him. His memory will be a blessing to all of us.

Jane Adams

September 19, 2018

Phil gave me a job doing PR for the Defender - we did a campaign that featured a diverse bunch of their staff, lawyers, paralegals and investigators in a lineup with the caption "You Need the public defender even if you never break the law " . We stayed friends thereafter, and I and everyone who knew him respected and admired him. He will be missed

josh & cindy tavlin

September 19, 2018

Our heartfelt condolences to the entire Ginsberg family. Love, Josh and Cindy Tavlin

Kay Godefroy

September 19, 2018

I was saddened to read of Phil's passing in the Seattle Times this morning. I knew him when we were parents of Whitworth Elementary students. He was also supportive, interested and lovely to talk to. I knew of his contributions to justice in our community and felt very fortunate to know him.

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