William Thomas Phillips III

William leaves behind his loving wife of 59 years Dorothy, son Scott and daughter-in-law Karen of Greenwich and son Michael and daughter-in-law Melissa of Stamford, as well as grandchildren Gillian, Max, Emma and Dylan.

Born and raised on the family farm in Cedar Grove, South Carolina, affectionately dubbed “the Swamp,” William learned the value of hard work, stretching a dollar, worship of God, the love and protection of family - but mostly hard work. Family, God, and Country were etched into the core of William and he rarely strayed from these elements of character over his amazing life.

William joined the US Navy, attended NC State for his B.S. & Masters in Electrical Engineering and his commissioning as a “Mustang” Officer USN. William was a warrior. He served a tour of duty in Vietnam on a Landing Ship Tank 10 miles from Cambodia on the Mekong River. Returning from Vietnam, William was XO and Navigation Officer of his Squadron. He taught himself celestial navigation and successfully brought his Squadron from Vietnam to the Philippines, Japan, Hawaii and San Francisco. William resigned his USN Lieutenant commission honorably after 11 years and one war. He crossed the Atlantic on a wooden minesweeper at 10 knots and the Pacific at 10 knots on the LST with his sextant.

William and Dororthy moved to Connecticut for work and to raise a family after the Navy. William was an executive at Rogers Corporation when he invented a machine necessary to mass produce a new, nonwoven cast padding material to work with the new fiberglass casts that were entering the medical market. William left Rogers to start AstroForm, his first and most successful company manufacturing cast padding. Additional businesses included 4Way Laminators, the Parking Lot at Greene Airport, Lake Country Golf, and a few unmentionables. William’s business success was the epitome of the American Dream and a true rags-to-riches story. Overall the time in the Northeast of CT was family-focused, prosperous, loving and joyful - especially raising the family at the Lake House in Dayville.

The birth of grandchildren uprooted William and Dorothy from NE Connecticut to Stamford. Nothing was more important to William and Dorothy than to be close to their grandkids and to be an active part of their lives. Whether teaching Gillian to ride a bike (without falling), attending Max’s and Emma’s water polo and Dylan’s lacrosse matches, going fishing on the Bird Dog or sneaking a trip to Dairy Queen for some chocolate ice cream - Papa’ was actively engaged in all his beloved grandchildrens’ lives. William’s love for his grandchildren is eternal.

William was a 12 handicap golfer. He loved the game and the deep friendships that he formed with golf partners in CT and FL. William loved to play Bridge with Dorothy where they frequently yet inexplicably won amongst close friends. William was a world class outdoorsman who loved to fish and hunt. He grew up fishing on the Black River, catching bass off the dock at Alexander’s Lake and joyous hours offshore fishing with his sons in FL and NJ. He scared many ducks with his shotgun. William never lost his love for the sea, especially fishing when the seas were what he called - “nautical.”

William never stopped building. He renovated seven homes that he lived in as well as the homes of his children and others. No project was beyond his capabilities including masonry, septic systems, foundations, electrical, plumbing, and anything else that one can imagine. William was the “go to” neighbor when one had a question about a home improvement project. SE Connecticut contractor premiums are up over 15% since William’s passing. The news attributes the increase to inflation, but everyone who knew William knows the real reason. Papa’s fix it shop is unfortunately closed.

Services to honor this Great American will be held at Leo P Gallagher & Son Funeral Home in Stamford on Wednesday, June 29 between 6-9 pm and Thursday, June 30 between 9-10:30 am immediately followed by a Requiem Mass at Church of the Holy Spirit in Stamford at 11:00. A reception for family and friends will be held at The Farmhouse in Stamford at 1:00. Please join us for a few bottles of Willie Wine after the service to toast William and celebrate his amazing life.