Philip Langworthy Stimmel passed away at his home in Brattleboro, Vermont, on April 18, 2025, surrounded by his wife and son, after months of declining health due to congestive heart failure.

Phil was born on June 4, 1942, in Rutland, Vermont, to Howard Lincoln Stimmel and Reba Lunetta Langworthy Stimmel. His older sister, Carol Jane, died in 1964. He grew up in a family dedicated to service and education. His father served as a Methodist minister in various churches across Vermont and New York, and his mother, Reba Lunetta Langworthy Stimmel, was an occupational therapist and teaching principle. As a teenager, Phil performed magic shows for children at birthday parties and several amusement parks.

He graduated from Saratoga Springs High School in 1960, and continued his education at Drew University, earning a bachelor's degree in political science in 1964. During his time at Drew, he pursued his love of music, studying pipe organ with his father and Lester Berenbroick.

Phil earned his Master's Degree from Union Theological Seminary School of Sacred Music in 1966, beginning his long career in church music. A year later, he moved to Montpelier, VT to serve Bethany Congregational Church, and teach choruses at Montpelier High School. In 1971, he became the Music Team Leader at the newly formed Union 32 High School music department in Berlin, VT. He later founded the Montpelier Conservatory of the Arts, which he ran for several years.

In 1972, he married a "cute red haired third grade teacher", Cherolyn Dawn Montgomery, whom he met through his church choir. They had one son, Jonathan Smith Stimmel. Together, they moved to Brattleboro, VT in 1987.

For over 50 years, Phil served as an organist and choirmaster for Presbyterian, Congregational, and Roman Catholic churches across New Jersey, Vermont, and Massachusetts. He was a Colleague of the American Guild of Organists, and served as both treasurer and dean of the Vermont chapter, which named him Artist of the Year in 2002. He would often present organ recitals, and especially enjoyed creating programs which featured other instruments, and he staged the operas Amahl and the Night Visitors and Noye's Fludde. He had a gift for nurturing and encouraging singers and performers to develop their abilities and confidence.

Beyond music, Phil served as director of the Estey Organ Museum, developed a second career as a skilled bookkeeper for local businesses and non-profit organizations, and was an avid collector of both stamps and reed organs.

A memorial service will be held 11:00 on June 7, 2024 at St. Michaels Episcopal Church, 16 Bradley Ave, Brattleboro, VT.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Vermont Public classical music (donate.vermontpublic.org/home); Windham County Humane Society (windhamcountyhumane.org); BAYADA Hospice Fund (www.bayada.com/hospice-care/locations/vt/brattleboro/1222-putney-road-suite-107/10489); or Center of Solace (formerly Brattleboro Hospice) (brattleborohospice.org/how-you-can-help/donate-to-hospice).

To share a memory or offer condolences to Phil's family, please visit www.atamaniuk.com.

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

Published by The Brattleboro Reformer on Apr. 26, 2025.