William Phillip "Phil" Zerilla Jr.

1936 - 2025

On Friday, November 14, we said goodbye to William Phillip (Phil) Zerilla, Jr. - a beloved husband, father and friend known for his joyful spirit, sense of fairness and lifelong love of golf.

Phil leaves behind his greatest joy - his family: his wife, Patricia (Patty) A. Zerilla; his children and their spouses, Rachel A. Zerilla (Mike Travis) and Rebecca Z. Lee (David Lee); and his treasured grandchildren, Nora Josephine Travis and Lucas Paul Lee, who lit up his world. He is also survived by his beloved brother and sister-in-law, Sam and Troy Zerilla, and his niece, Portia Zerilla.

He is welcomed into heaven by his parents, William Phillip (Phil) Zerilla, Sr. and Flora Mae Zerilla.

His family history was rooted in hard work, music and resilience. His grandfather, Sam Zerilla, immigrated to the United States from Tarrasini, Italy with his wife, Anna, and their young son, Paul, in 1899, initially settling south of Detroit. A cabinet maker and gifted musician, Sam toured with John Philip Sousa's band as a clarinetist during summertime seasons and later played on the excursion boats along the Mississippi River after moving his family to Memphis.

Phil's father, Phil Zerilla, Sr., was born in Michigan in 1905, before the family eventually made Memphis their permanent home. The family opened numerous movie theaters in Memphis, including The Daisy, The New Daisy, and The Capitol, which eventually became the home of Stax Records, a legendary cornerstone of Memphis music.

Phil Jr. was born in Memphis on May 29, 1936, growing up surrounded by a legacy of creativity, community and dedication.

He attended Little Flower Parochial School and later Christian Brothers High School (CBHS), where he played the saxophone in the band and graduated in 1954. He earned his degree with honors from Memphis State University in 1958. During college, he served as an ROTC cadet before entering active duty in July 1958 as the Personnel and Administrative Officer in a B-57 Squadron stationed at Rhein Main Air Base in Frankfurt, Germany.

After returning to Memphis in 1961, he joined the Tennessee Air National Guard for 11 years and later served as a Liaison Officer for the Air Force Academy.

Phil began his professional career in 1963 with the Insurance Company of North America as an adjuster while attending night law school at Memphis State. He graduated with his Juris Doctor in 1969 and began practicing law alongside his brother, Sam, in 1970 - a partnership that lasted more than 40 years. In addition to his private practice, Phil served the community for three decades as a part-time Assistant Divorce Referee and in 2002, was appointed as the Head Divorce Referee by the County Mayor and served in that role full-time for 2.5 years. Phil retired from his law practice in 2015.

Outside the courtroom, Phil's happiest place was the golf course. He was a lifelong golfer, beginning at age 13 and continued at CBHS where he played on the team that won the Memphis Prep Championship in 1954. He later played for the Memphis State golf team and remained a proud, longtime member of Colonial Country Club, where he won the Senior Club Championship five times.

One of Phil's favorite memories was winning the Jackson, Tennessee Country Club Invitational Four-Ball Tournament in 1983 with his brother, Sam. The two competed in four-ball tournaments across the Mid-South for many years, sharing countless rounds, laughs and victories.

Phil will be remembered for his inviting sense of humor and the way his personality instantly drew people in. He believed in living a life filled with joy - in good food, good company and time well spent with the people he loved. He will be deeply missed and forever cherished by all who had the gift of knowing him.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, November 21 at Canale Funeral Directors, 2700 Union Ave Extended. Visitation will begin at 2:00 pm, with a memorial service to follow at 3:00 pm. A reception will be immediately following for all guests at the home of Rebecca and David Lee.