Philip Franzese

Philip Franzese

AGE: 68 • Monmouth Beach

Philip Franzese, 68, of Monmouth Beach, passed away suddenly on Friday, Jan. 25, 2013, while on vacation in St. Croix, the Virgin Islands. A graduate of Manhattan College, Phil served with the U.S. Air Force, Air National Guard as a lieutenant colonel, part of which time was spent in Vietnam. He continued to protect and serve others as a captain for the New York City Police Department. Following retirement from the police force, he later became a financial advisor.

Phil was predeceased by his parents, Philip and Ruth. He is survived by his wife, Yvonne, who shared his life for 25 years; daughter, Kay; son, Philip and his fiancée, Isabella; son, Matt and his wife, Maureen; son, Paul and his wife, Melissa; brother-in-law and friend, David; Aunt Doris and Uncle Jerry Doyle; cousins, Louise Doyle and Doug Franzese; his dog, Nick; and the many friends and family members whom he treasured.

Yankee legend Lou Gehrig when he announced to his fans that he would be leaving baseball said, "Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth." Phil, a passionate and loyal Yankee fan, echoed those words in the way in which he lived.

His indelible smile, infectious laugh, wry sense of humor, intense sense of loyalty and passion for living and loving others resonated in the hearts of those who knew him and will continue to do so in his memory. He relished warm, sunny days, a good story, traveling, boat rides, cooking Christmas Eve dinners, martinis, sleeping through the sun rising and watching the Yankees especially surrounded by his family. But perhaps paramount in Phil's life was his deep love of being a steady, ever-present and supporting dad and husband.

It was once said, "The purity of a person's heart and soul can be quickly measured by how they regard animals." Phil's soul was pure, and his heart was kind and charitable.

Visitation will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 3, with a service beginning at 5:15 p.m. at the Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad St., Red Bank. Donations can be made to Half the Sky (www.halfthesky.org) in lieu of flowers.