Philip Ginsburg

Philip Ginsburg
Philip Ginsburg, 101, of Danbury, the loving husband for 70 years of the late Jane (Rosenthal) Ginsburg, passed away peacefully at Danbury Hospital surrounded by family on January 5, 2025. Mr. Ginsburg was the proprietor-pharmacist of the former Liggett Rexall Drugs of Danbury.
Phil was born on July 21, 1923, the youngest of three siblings to Jacob and Ida (Epstein) Ginsburg. While attending Bridgeport's Central High School, he made early morning milk deliveries to help his ailing father's milk business. After graduation and while attending the University of Connecticut Pharmacy school, he volunteered for the 205th Army Signal Corp during World War II. By the time of his honorable discharge in 1946, he served as a Corporal in command of 50 soldiers. Continuing pharmacy school to graduate in 1949, he worked as a pharmacist in Bridgeport until he opened Liggett Rexall in 1959.
As the owner of the largest and busiest drugstore in Danbury for forty-five years, Phil's upbeat charisma, deep compassion, and playfulness strongly endeared him to his customers and employees. Filling over a million prescriptions for four generations of Danburians, many times he would open the store for a needy person, or would personally deliver the medicine to their homes. Retired from pharmacy at age 93 and years after selling his store, Phil lived in the same house in Danbury for over 65 years.
Throughout all his years, he has been known for thinking out of the box and a relentless drive to solve any challenge. He has derived many ingenious household solutions, business calculations, and most importantly, many human conflicts. Inspired by his own dad, Phil's passion for woodworking had him creating beautiful pieces, notably birdhouses, in his fully equipped home shop through age 97. Active in the Danbury community, Phil received his 55-year pin from the Masonic Lodge in Danbury in 2016. He was also a long-time member of the Danbury Men's Club, Elks Lodge, the CT Pharmacy Association, and the United Jewish Center of Danbury.
Phil had reached an age unprecedented in his birth and extended family. When asked to explain his longevity, "I eat Cheerios every morning with my decaf." On his centennial birthday, he said "(The years) snuck up on me. I wasn't really expecting to live this long. Evidently, somebody's up there saying I've got to keep going." The most important lesson he's learned? "Just love people."
Throughout his marriage, Phil and Jane laughed daily and enjoyed each other with a freshness and innocence common in a marriage's early years.
Phil is survived by his two sons, Jeff Ginsburg and his wife Lu Li of Sherman, and Gary Ginsburg and his wife, Pam Seri Ginsburg of Las Vegas, NV, three grandchildren, Jordan Ginsburg of Marina del Rey, CA, Alexandra Ginsburg Khalifa and Shana Ginsburg of Las Vegas, as well as three great-grandchildren, Roxas Khalifa, Raiden Khalifa, and Jade Hall. He is also survived by six nieces and nephews and their ten children. In addition to his wife and parents, he was predeceased by a brother Morris Ginsburg, and a sister Lilyan Picow.
Funeral services will take place on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at 11 a.m. in the United Jewish Center, 141 Deer Hill Ave., Danbury, with Cantor Lilah Sugarman officiating. Burial will follow in the United Jewish Center Cemetery, 210 Gray's Bridge Rd., Brookfield with military honors. The family will receive friends at the United Jewish Center at 10 a.m. prior to services. Donations may be made in Phil's honor, by giving to Cantor Lilah Sugarman Discretionary Fund - https://ujc.shulcloud.com/payment.php