Philip J. Bigger

Phil,

I'm watching "Bridge of Spies" again and thinking of you. I'm thinking of you, brother, and will see you again soon.

Ira

I was a next door neighbor to Phil and Lois for over 15 years on Staten Island. We lost touch after they moved to NC. Today, my wife and I were reminiscing and thought of them. I googled them and with very great sadness, found this obituary for Phil.
I can’t find a contact number for Lois but if she sees this message please contact me at (917) 378-5042. Phil was a wonderful human being and a great neighbor. God bless his soul. It’s hard to believe he is gone for 8 years. God bless Lois and their family.

Brother, every time I tie a square knot, I think of you.
Every time I buy a sleeping bag, I think of you.
Every time I read Pirsig or consider Becker, or Kubler-Ross I think of you.
Every time I savor some sherry, or cook a steak or eat beef stew, or read a history or visit a US Courthouse, I think of you.
I am fortunate to have had you as my friend, grateful for the lessons you have taught me and I will always remember you as my brother.

Ira

I first met Phil in 1974 when he became head of the Counseling Service of EDNY. Phil was the best boss I ever had, and that is still the case now, as I approach my 70th birthday. And its not even close. But Phil became much more than a great boss. He became my dear friend. We camped together, tapped maple trees together and ate the syrup on top of ice cream that we had half buried in the snow, and we sailed his homemade outrigger canoe across Raritan Bay in Staten Island. Phil always included his then young son, Michael, who was a wonderful boy and the spitting image of his dad. Phil was an Eagle Scout and consummate outdoorsman and he taught me so much about living in and around the woods. Phil also was a true scholar, and we spent many hours discussing metaphysics, history and science. I would have written this earlier, when he died, but I didnt discover this space until now, when I was ruminating on the seven years since his death. My thoughts are with Lois and their children.