Phyllis M. Brick

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Phyllis M. Brick of Lexington passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on May 29, 2024, one day after her 93rd birthday.
Family was paramount to Phyllis. For 62 years, she was the beloved wife of Donald Brick, who passed in 2014. She was the devoted mother of James Brick and his wife Wendy, Susan Weinbaum and her husband Dan Weinbaum, and Howard Brick and his wife Jill Smilow. She was an adoring grandmother to her seven grandchildren: Jaclyn Gutierrez and her husband Antonio Gutierrez, Arielle Brick, Elana Weinbaum, Kayley Weinbaum, Julia Andes and her husband George Andes, Jeremy Brick, and Eli Brick and his fiancé Megan Flanagan. She was the beloved great grandmother or "GG" to Olivia Gutierrez.
Phyllis was a life-long Bostonian. She was born on May 28, 1931 in New York City and was raised in Brookline, MA. She graduated from Wheaton College and while there met Don on a blind date. She loved to tell the story of how Don had two potential plans for the evening depending on his first impression of her – go to see a movie or go out dancing. They went dancing and never stopped for the next more than 62 years.
Don and Phyllis moved to Lexington in 1956 and became deeply enmeshed in the community in which they lived for the rest of their lives. Phyllis and Don shared a passion for philanthropy and volunteerism, and were particularly devoted to supporting Jewish communal organizations. Within Lexington, they were co-founders of both Temple Emunah and Temple Isaiah, supported each throughout their lives, and took on many leadership roles at Temple Emunah.
Beyond Lexington, Phyllis and Don were life-long leaders and activists in the Boston Jewish community. Phyllis held many leadership positions within the Combined Jewish Philanthropies, including Chair Person of the Women's Division. Even up to age 90, Phyllis annually embraced her commitment to make calls to solicit contribution to CJP. Similarly, she was active as a volunteer with the American Technion Society, Beth Israel hospital and Hadassah.
Phyllis and Don cultivated a wide circle of close friends both in Lexington and beyond. Those life-long friends included the famous "Hanukah Group", whose family Hanukah parties began in 1956 and continue through four generations to today. She and Don owned a home in Mashpee on Cape Cod. And had a life-long love affair with the Cape. There they spent most of the Summer, engaging in adventures and gatherings with a wonderful circle of friends, boating over to Martha's Vineyard for lunch or ice cream, playing tennis in New Seabury, and hosting many parties. Their Cape Cod home was the focal point for family gatherings where Phyllis specialized in filling up her grandchildren with Grandma's famous pancakes and presenting guests with her renowned deli platters.
Most important to Phyllis was family, immediate and extended. For decades, she loved hosting as much family as could fit around the table for holidays and any distant cousin who happened to show up or come to Boston for school could be assured of receiving an invitation to a Passover Seder or Rosh Hashanah dinner. As a grandmother, Phyllis was totally committed to all her grandchildren, had special relationships with each of them, and was a devoted attendee at concerts, sporting events, birthday parties, and other events. Phyllis was always there with support, advice, wisdom, and strong opinions mixed with respect for her children's views and decisions.
Funeral services will take place at Temple Emunah in Lexington at 10:00 on Monday, June 3, 2024. Shiva will be at her former residence, Waterstone at Lexington at 53 Watertown Street in Lexington on Monday from 3-5 PM and 6-9 PM. Contributions in lieu of flowers can be made to Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston or Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.