Richard L. Phillips

Richard I. Phillips It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Richard L. Phillips who died peacefully in Rocky River, OH, on Thursday, March 3, 2016. He was 89 years old, exactly four months shy of his 90th birthday. A lifelong resident of Cleveland, “Dick”, as he was known affectionately to family and friends, was born on July 3, 1926, the oldest child of Sanford and Ann Phillips. He attended Ludlow School and graduated from Shaker Heights High in the class of 1945. Dick went on to study at Ohio State, where he belonged to the Phi Sigma Delta fraternity and to the honorary Phi Eta Sigma Society. After graduating, he spent a year in New York City pursuing graduate work in business and law at Columbia University. In 1950, Dick married the former Ellen Baum Morris, and the couple took up residence in Shaker Heights. He worked for two years as an industrial engineer at Parker Hannifin. One day, over a brown-bag lunch at work, a co-worker asked Dick if he wanted to go to Law School. His co-worker was going down that night to Cleveland Marshall Law School, and asked if Dick wanted to come with him. Dick’s response was, “why not”? After four years of night school, Dick graduated at the top of his class! Dick joined the law firm of Benesch, Friedlander & Mendelson, and for six decades was a prominent member of this growing Cleveland firm, specializing in corporate litigation. From 1960 – 1985, Dick lived in Shaker Heights and raised a family of four boys all of whom attended public schools, and three of whom went on to graduate from Hawken School. Dick also found time for many civic activities. He was member of the board of the Montefiore Home, and active fundraiser for the Leukemia Society, and on the boards of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America and Suburban Temple. From the late 1940’s until only last year he was also, notably, a loyal and long-suffering Browns season ticket holder. In 1985, Dick moved to the west side where he was remarried to the former Delfina Briscoe Thompson. The couple resided for thirty happy years in Rocky River, vacationing in Longboat Key, Florida every winter. Dick loved vacationing in Maine and Florida with his children and grandchildren, antiquing, going to the movies; was a passionate reader, and history and war “buff”. Dick put family first, and was a very loyal friend with long-lasting friendships. One of the most special friendships was between Dick and his devoted dog, Sunday - the dog could do no wrong! Dick met his nephrologist, Dr. Marc Pohl, twelve years ago and Dr. Pohl became one of his dearest friends. Dr. Pohl always made sure Dick had the best of care by telling Dick “he is a smart man”, and allowing Dick to make his own decisions with Dr. Pohl’s loving guidance and sense of humor. Dick is predeceased in death by his son Owen Thompson; and is held in loving memory by his widow Delfina, of Rocky River, OH, by his sister, Janis Shear, and his sons: Lee and wife Ann of Montclair, NJ; Grant and wife Maria, of Concord, MA; Scott and wife Crystal, of New York, NY; Stuart and wife Arunima McNeish of Victoria, British Columbia; and Mark Thompson and wife Natasha of Lakewood, OH; as well as by his twelve grandchildren, on whom he doted: Zachary, Perry, Benjamin, Emma, Lucy, Ethan, Louisa, and Joshua Phillips; and Zachary, Owen, Jaden, and Tyler Thompson. A public service in Dick’s honor will take place at Suburban Temple-Kol Ami in Beachwood at 11:00am on Friday, March 25th. The burial will follow at Lake View Cemetery, 12316 Euclid Avenue, after which the family will return to Suburban Temple to receive friends until 4:00pm. Donations in Dick’s name may be sent to Suburban Temple or to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America. PHILLIPS RICHARD PHILLIPS. It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Richard L. Phillips, who died peacefully in Rocky River, OH, on Thursday, March 3, 2016. He was 89 years old, exactly four months shy of his 90th birthday. A lifelong resident of Cleveland, "Dick," as he was known affectionately to family and friends, was born on July 3, 1926, the oldest child of Sanford and Ann Phillips. He attended Ludlow School and graduated from Shaker Heights High in the class of 1945. Dick went on to study at Ohio State, where he belonged to the Phi Sigma Delta fraternity and to the honorary Phi Eta Sigma Society. After graduating, he spent a year in New York City pursuing graduate work in business and law at Columbia University. In 1950, Dick married the former Ellen Baum Morris, and the couple took up residence in Shaker Heights. He worked for two years as an industrial engineer at Parker Hannifin. One day, over a brown-bag lunch at work, a co-worker asked Dick if he wanted to go to Law School. His co-worker was going down that night to Cleveland Marshall Law School, and asked if Dick wanted to come with him. Dick's response was, "why not?" After four years of night school, Dick graduated at the top of his class! Dick joined the law firm of Benesch, Friedlander & Mendelson, and for six decades was a prominent member of this growing Cleveland firm, specializing in corporate litigation. From 1960 - 1985, Dick lived in Shaker Heights and raised a family of four boys all of whom attended public schools, and three of whom went on to graduate from Hawken School. Dick also found time for many civic activities. He was member of the board of the Montefiore Home, and active fundraiser for the Leukemia Society, and on the boards of the Crohn's -