Philip Joseph Chanfrau Jr.

1945 - 2018

The man with the smoothest golf swing in the history of Volusia County (and perhaps all surrounding counties) has passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. Philip Joseph Chanfrau, Jr. was born in Daytona Beach at Halifax Health Hospital to Marjorie Lynch Chanfrau (Former Miss Daytona Beach) and Philip Joseph Chanfrau (Marine Fighter Pilot) on April 30, 1945 and died on a spring day in Ormond Beach on March 19, 2018. The birth and death of this great man, however, is not nearly as relevant as all of the days and nights that he lived to the fullest between those two dates. Phil was intellectually gifted, and had tremendous athletic and golfing abilities. As a fourth generation native of Daytona Beach, he attended Seabreeze High School and graduated in 1963. He played golf with his Dad and brother growing up and not surprisingly, the University of Florida recruited Phil to attend the University of Florida on a golf scholarship. A picture of Phil playing golf in a tournament hung in the Coaches office for years. His education and golf were interrupted when Phil answered the call to serve his country to join the Navy. After serving in the Navy for three years and receiving an honorable discharge, Phil attended Stetson University College of Law and graduated Cum Laude with his Juris Doctorate degree in law in 1970. After practicing law at Black and Crotty Law Firm for several years, in 1976 he joined his younger brother William Michael Chanfrau, Sr., to begin the formidable law practice of Chanfrau and Chanfrau to represent the injured and powerless members of our community. The two brothers practiced law together for decades and tried many cases together resulting in substantial verdicts. After a short retirement, Phil re-emerged with his own successful law practice in Palm Coast. Phil was a compassionate, kind, keen and courageous lawyer. In the year before his passing, Phil stated many times that he wished he had taken even more cases to trial. He cared passionately for his clients. Phil was an amazing and loving father. He has one son, Philip Tyler Chanfrau, whom he both adored and cherished. Phil and Tyler loved playing golf together, and just recently traveled to Ireland for a father-son golfing trip. Phil had a joie de vivre which showed in all that he did and was contagious to those around him. He always had a warm smile, kind eyes, and thoughtful wisdom for his friends and for anyone who came to him needing help or advice. He loved to travel and at one point, spent six months traveling the world. Phil is survived by his beloved son, Philip Tyler Chanfrau, his brother William Michael Chanfrau, sister-in-law, Muffi Chanfrau and two loving nieces and nephew, William Michael Chanfrau, Jr., (Liz), Kelly Chanfrau-Bailey, (Richard), and Priscilla Gail Chanfrau, (Othon Chacon). Phil also leaves behind Jan Foster, his loving and kind fiancé, with whom he also loved to travel far and wide. The family would like to say a special and warm thank you to the Halifax Health Hospice Center of Ormond Beach and the very special staff for the wonderful care provided to Phil during his last few weeks. Friends and Family are invited to a Celebration of Life at St. James Episcopal Church, 38 S Halifax Dr., Ormond Beach, at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, March 24, 2018, followed by a reception at Oceanside Country Club, Ormond Beach. In lieu of flowers, the family would kindly request donations be made to Halifax Health Hospice at 3800 Woodbriar Trail Port Orange, FL 32129 or online at www.halifaxhealth.org/hospice in Phil's honor. Arrangements are under the care of Lohman Funeral Home Ormond. Condolences for the family may be shared at www.lohmanfuneralhomes.com.