William Phipps

William L. Phipps was born June 29, 1949, in Manhattan, New York to Robert and Christine (Dubinok) Phipps. Although Bill lived in Queens throughout his life, he retired to Tuckahoe, New York near his beloved alma mater, Concordia College, New York (a junior college at the time he attended). Bill started playing the guitar at age 13 and picked up piano along the way as he continued to study music throughout his college years and especially at Concordia Senior College in Fort Wayne, Indiana, (now called Concordia Theological Seminary). At the time he was studying to be a Lutheran pastor and his concentration was in music. He graduated Concordia in June 1971. Although he never became a pastor, his love of music continued, and took voice in composition courses at The Manhattan School of Music. He also continued his religious education at New York School of the Bible, where he received a certification, and finally went onto obtain his Master of Arts (MA) in religion at Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia.
His career was at ASCAP, the music licensing company, where he held several positions related to music as a Radio Analyst. He was particularly proud of his relationship with the contemporary Christian music industry, and his working relationship at ASCAP with the major contemporary Christian singers of the age.
Bill's hobbies included listening to classical music, especially opera and vocal literature, and walking along the Bronx River Parkway from Bronxville to Scarsdale (and back) when the weather was just right. He also enjoyed composing choral music and songs for friends, and even sometimes himself. He also liked to admit that he was a "sucker' for feeding pigeons in Central Park.
Bill, shared that his personal motto came from a Paul Smith song called "Hunger and Thirst." The first line says, "It's a far, far cry, From where I began, But it's farther still, To the man I should be, From the man than I am." Bill was a lifelong Lutheran, Confirmed in June of 1963 at Christ Lutheran Church in Woodside, Queens, NY and as an adult, a proud member of Saint Peters Lutheran Church in Manhattan and later the Village Lutheran Church in Bronxville where he was active and well loved. He loved the music and drama ministries and especially the midweek Bible Study.
According to Bill, his life and all the gifts and challenges of life, helped to keep him grounded. He was inspired by the loving memory of his parents whom he called "the most selfless people that he ever knew". Bill is survived by many friends and his cousin, Lenore Epstein. He will be remembered at a committal service at Ferncliff Cemetery at a date to be determined in the near future. Memorials in his memory may be given to Village Lutheran Church Music Program at 172 White Plains Rd. Bronxville, NY 10708 or via the website at VLC-NY.org.