Philip Carter Fairbank Jr.

FAIRBANK, Philip Carter Jr. Philip Carter Fairbank, Jr. passed away at home on Friday (July 30, 2004) after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He was born in Old Saybrook, August 7, 1925, the son of Philip C. Fairbank, Sr. and Hazel (Moat) Fairbank. Philip (Bud) was a graduate of Old Saybrook High School and Trinity College in Hartford, earning a degree in engineering. Mr. Fairbank served in World War II in the submarine service aboard the U.S.S. Pampanito. He had a 38-year career with SNET (SBC), retiring as Network Manager for Connecticut in 1987. During his years with SNET, he also helped plan the telecommunications transition from analog to digital technology. He leaves his wife of 46 years, Patricia Legins Fairbank; five children and eight grandchildren. His children are Lynn Fairbank of Dedham, MA., Philip Keith Fairbank of Palm Bay, FL, Stuart J. Fairbank and his wife Ann of Old Saybrook, Jennifer W. Fairbank of East Greenwich, RI and Elizabeth J. Fairbank of Warwick, RI. A lifelong member of the First Church of Christ, Congregational, he served as Deacon and on various committees throughout the years. He was proud of having been involved in starting the Food Pantry, and organizing the Crop Walk for several years. Mr. Fairbank toyed the outdoors especially fly fishing for striped bass and duck hunting. His love of duck hunting led him to begin carving duck decoys with his father when he was 10 years old. Through the years, he won many awards for his carvings both in the U.S. and Canada. He was a member of the Potapaug Gun Club, a favorite hunting spot where he was introduced to duck hunting as a child, and enjoyed modern and traditional target shooting with his many friends at the Quaker Hill Rod and Gun and Pattaguassett Muzzleloaders Club's. As an avid outdoorsman, he believed it was important that everyone have the opportunity to enjoy wildlife and the natural beauty of the land. He recently arranged for a large portion of his land, which had been passed down in his family for generations, to remain open space through the Old Saybrook Land Trust. Swan Funeral Home of Old Saybrook is in charge of funeral arrangements. A memorial service will be held on Monday, August 2, at the First Church of Christ Congregational located on Main Street in Old Saybrook at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery with family and friends later that same day. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to the First Church of Christ, Congregational, 366 Main Street, Old Saybrook, CT 06475.