Philip Frederick Boettcher

The definition of a mosaic piece of art work is a "picture or pattern produced by arranging small pieces of stone, tile, glass." I often view our family in this way. Individually we are all beautiful and loved. When put together in the pattern produced by our loved ones, we become something much more. A family. As light shines through our mosaic each small individual piece spreads our light and love to each other. As we lose our loved ones these people are not gone or forgotten. They are with us on each and every passing moment. Every aspect of who we are carries their light and love endlessly throughout time. Thank you, Uncle Phil, for giving us your light and love. We will continue to shine it brightly.

Love Max

Wish I could be there with everyone. Love you!

Deacon Phil has been such an inspiration during the three RCIA programs at St. Marks. I was honored and blessed to sponsor four converts that Deacon helped bring into the Catholic church through sharing his amazing knowledge of the faith. I will never forget this amazing holy man of God and I pray he will remember and pray for all of us here on earth as he enjoys his eternal inheritance in Heaven. His life celebration mass at St. Marks church this morning was outstanding! He will be missed and remembered by so many!
God Bless!

We both share fond memories of Phillip. I worked for him at Invento in White Plains,NY, and we both enjoyed his company at Good Counsel and on Long Island. We extend our deepest sympathies to the entire family.
Patty and Phil Kozlak.

The definition of a mosaic piece of art is a "picture or pattern produced by arranging together small pieces of stone, tile, glass." I often view our family in this way. Individually we are all beautiful and loved. When put together in the pattern produced by our loved ones, we become something much more. A Family. As light shines through our mosaic each small individual piece spreads our light & love to each other. As we lose our loved ones these people are not gone or forgotten. They are with us on each and every passing moment. Every aspect of who we are carries their light and love endlessly throughout time. Thank you, Uncle Phil, for giving us your light & love. We will continue to shine it brightly.

Love,

Max Philip Boettcher

Most sincere prayers for Phil. May Mother Mary's loving hand draw him into the Eternal Light that will surely shine upon him!
I knew Phil in the later 1960's as a generous & kind friend to his sister & to her friends &, very briefly, as a very interesting and respectful "date". Contact was soon lost. I am very inspired to learn of the direction, Phil's life took.
May the Holy Spirit who visited him in life, now accompany him through all eternity.
A fellow Marian

So sorry to hear of your passing! You were heading loved! Sending all our love to to family!

Rest in peace Phil. You were a kind and loving soul who touched many lives. Your memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew you. Sending love and strength to the family during this difficult time. You will be greatly missed.

So sorry to hear of Philip´s death. There are fond memories of events at Good Counsel and his smile. Love to all.

So sorry to hear about Phil´s passing. There are so many memories of good times and mischief in New Hyde Park and at the bungalows. Love to your daughters, grandchildren, and siblings. Rest in peace cousin.

I am so sorry for the loss of your brother Philip. Please know we are sending prayers to all of you during this difficult time. Love Sharon and Scott

I am so sorry to hear of Phil´s passing. I remember all the fun we used to have at the bungalows. His laughter rang thru the woods. He was a dear sweet cousin.

I had the honor to work with Phil for many years. He was a man of strong character and still had a compassion for people. In business he developed relationships where he was liked, respected, trusted by his bottler customers. That is very rare to have all three. The attached photos is Phil´s announcement of his ordination that he shared with me. Also Phil was so good at many aspects of his job but monthly forecasting volume was challenging. He kept thinking why guess when you could get the actual number in several days. I bet him $5 that I could guess his estimate better than he could. Yes Phil lost but he paid his bet with $5 in penny´s in a Dr Pepper bottle.
I miss you and your generous spirit.

My dear Uncle Phil - my godfather. I have such wonderful memories of playing with my cousins on the hammock in his back yard and pretending to be the Scooby Doo gang, exploring the dusty, cobwebby and slightly creepy garage. I remember babysitting Beth and Anna when I was a teenager and being convinced that the old house was haunted because of all the moving shadows, drafts and creaky floorboards.

There was never a shortage of 7-Up, Dr Pepper, and cream soda in the Boettcher family. I'm surprised I still have all my real teeth! My favorite was always the root beer, and now whenever I taste root beer it brings me back to Uncle Phil's backyard family barbecues.

There was also the time at my sister's wedding when I didn't have a partner to dance with when the wedding party was called to the dancefloor. Uncle Phil came to my rescue when no one else did so I didn't have to be a wallflower!

When Uncle Phil visited me in England he wanted to meet all of my friends and in-laws, and he regaled us with tales of Africa and Israel. He was always interested in learning about other people.

Unfortunately, I never got to do the trip over to the south of the USA to go visit him before his passing.

Safe travels on your next adventure, Uncle Phil. You will be missed.

Kerryx

As I write this, I am wavering between sorrow at his passing and embarrassment at having lost touch with him for so many years.

I met Phil when we were pledge brothers in college. He was a leader of that group, helping organize the rest of us through the trials of pledging. His obit mentions his fondness for the music of Bob Dylan. I remember sitting around in his basement listening to Dylan, The Bee Gees, Jefferson Airplane, and other bands that he knew but were unfamiliar to me. When the news of Roberta Flack´s passing came out a few weeks before Phil died, I thought of him. After I returned from Vietnam, Phil and I were having lunch somewhere when her rendition of "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" played on the jukebox. I had never heard of her, but Phil was a fan.

Before he made a career in the soda industry, he managed a Jack in the box. He told me that a fast-food competitor came in one day and told him it was the best run location that he had run across. I am sure it was because Phil was in charge.

After he made a career move to Birmingham, I failed to keep up with him. We did have lunch together when I attended an Alabama football game in 2011 with another fraternity brother. He told me when you move to Alabama, neighbors will introduce themselves and ask you three questions: (1) Where do you come from? (2) Do you root for Alabama or Auburn? and (3) What church do you attend? And, if you do not have an answer for number three, they invite you to their church.

Phil was an example of what St. Paul wrote in his first letter to the Corinthians. He was humble, sincere, patient, and generous. Phil´s father had passed away in his 40´s making him the male head of the household. I believe that part of God's consolation for his wonderful mother, Mary was that Phil was able and willing to set an example for his brothers and sisters.

I have learned that there are no coincidences. God works his miracles but chooses to remain anonymous. Shortly after his gall bladder surgery, I called Phil out of the blue to apologize for losing touch with him. We chatted for half an hour about his deaconate service, our children, and grandchildren. He never mentioned how serious his medical condition was. He laughed as I promised to keep up with him.

One of the great opening lines in literature is from the novel Scaramouche: "He was born with a gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad." Phil laughed a lot. He embraced each day as gift from God and was able to give God his own gift of a day lived in service of others.

My sincerest sympathies to Annelise, Beth and grandchildren, and to his brothers and sisters, and all their loved ones.

Was just a little kid sitting in awe of the split window vette and Phil on Paul's shoulder painting the front of 1504 our love and condolences to a wonderful family!

My sincerest condolence to your family a good man great family many nice years next door neighbor New Hyde Park NY
Vic Gentile
Phil say from me to your parent and mine in heaven

I have great memories of Phil when he came to Bishop Molloy Retreat House in Jamaica Queens with his family members. They were excited every single one of them a great group of young men filled with deep faith. We pray for Deacon, Phil, and for his family may he rest in peace and may he bless all of us with his faith.

Deacon Phil, you were always a kind and gentle person. So sad to hear of your passing. You will truly be missed by your family and friends. On behalf of my DP Northeast Division, we send our prayers for God to watch over you. Phil, may you rest in peace with our Lord.

Jim Tressito
Northeast Division