Philip Anthony Paolello

Philip Anthony Paolello, age 98 years. Beloved husband of the late Dolores Ruth Paolello (nee Grinkmeyer). Loving father of Paul (Josefina), Peggy Paolello Disney, Michael (Marlene), and Mary Paolello Kramer (Bruce). He is also survived by 5 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. Phil was a brother to James Paolello, and the late Virginia Melchiore, Jean Sparks Kroner, Dorothy Grundei, Nicholas Paolello, Robert Paolello, and Jack Paolello. He was lifelong friends with Erminio (Mino) Lavatori and James Duffy.

Philip passed away on September 27, 2025. Born in Cincinnati, he was the son of Philip and Loretta (Stevens) Paolello, the second of eight children. Phil graduated from Purcell High School in 1945, and served in the U.S. Army from 1945-1947. After his military discharge, he entered the Cincinnati College of Pharmacy and graduated in 1951. He met the love of his life, Dolores Ruth Grinkmeyer, in 1947. They were married in October, 1951, and remained married more than 66 years, until she passed away in 2017.

Phil began working at the age of 13, selling papers outside of Boger's Pharmacy. He was so loud that the management (Art Boger, George and Jim Mitchell) hired him to work in the store, just to get him off the street! That was the beginning of a long-term, loyal relationship with Mr. Boger and George Mitchell. He worked for them all through college. In 1954, he helped George open Mitchell Pharmacy in Delhi, and then another store in Brentwood, on Winton Road.

In 1957, he built a house and moved his young family to Delhi, joined Our Lady of Victory parish, and lived there for 67 years. After several years of working at both stores, he bought the Delhi store in 1964, and after paying it off in 1969, changed the name to Paolello Pharmacy. In 1983, with the help of his daughter (Mary) and son (Michael) he opened a medical equipment business adjacent to the pharmacy. He continued to serve the Delhi community until he retired in March, 1995.

While serving the public, he also serviced the Mt. St. Joseph Motherhouse and its surrounding residences, and the Brothers at Mt. Alverno School, plus many other religious individuals. During Phil's many years in Delhi, numerous chain pharmacies came and went. He enjoyed his family, fishing, working in his gardens and watching the Reds, Bengals, Xavier and U.C. basketball.

He was proud to say: "I personally have never used a drive-up window or car wash."

Visitation will be Monday, October 6th at the Vitt, Stermer & Anderson Funeral Home 4619 Delhi Rd. from 8:30am-10:30am. Funeral mass will follow at Our Lady of Victory Church at 11am. 

Memorials may made to: 

Meals on Wheels of Southwest Ohio, 2091 Radcliffe Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45204

Our Lady of Victory Church Food Pantry, 810 Neeb Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45233

Comboni Missionaries, 1318 Nagel Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45255