Philip Anthony Greathead

On Monday, April 1st, 2024, Philip Anthony Greathead, loving husband and father, passed away at the age of 72. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Janet Greathead, his son David Greathead, his daughter Nicole Greathead Parisi, and his son in law, Austin Parisi. His extended family includes his brother Jim Greathead and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his sister Anne Sullivan, brother in law Bill Sullivan, his brother Peter Greathead, and sister in law Elda Greathead.

Philip was born in Georgetown, Guyana on November 1st, 1951. The youngest of 4 children born to Bertie and Christine Greathead, Philip loved the country where he was born. As a child he attended Mapps College in Barbados. He loved to tell us about the waves at the Crane beach and was always searching for the perfect recipe for a swizzle or for an ice apple on Christmas morning that might take him back to his childhood.

Upon leaving Guyana in the 1970’s he proudly served in the United States Air Force for 22 years. Through his service he was stationed near RAF Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire, UK where he met the love of his life, Janet, and she made the rainy, cold weather and warm beer in England tolerable for him. Janet and Philip were married on December 20th, 1975. His job took them away from England to Clovis, New Mexico and then back again. When they returned to Oxfordshire, David and Nicole were born a few years apart, and eventually the family moved back to the States. Living for a time in New Hampshire and Louisiana, with Philip spending a year at Kunsan Air Base in Korea, the family settled for good in Tampa, Florida in 1991. After his military retirement Philip worked for Pressco Technology and FedEx Ground, making coworkers into friends wherever he was.

Philip and Janet’s house has always been filled with music and laughter, it was always the place that people wanted to be. You might be invited for dinner and end up at a dance party. In the last few years as Philip began to show signs of illness and things quieted down, you could still hear the music if you listened.

Philip loved Miller Lite and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, even when they broke his heart. Even when they made him root for Tom Brady. He was handy and so smart. He told great stories and if you could make him laugh hard enough tears would just roll down his face, which felt like winning the lottery. Philip was happiest next to his wife on a white beach with turquoise water, cold drink in his hand, Byron Lee on the speaker. (If you know you know, and if you don’t know do yourself a favor and look it up. Turn it up loud for him.)

Philip leaves a huge hole in the hearts of family and friends who loved him. We will miss him terribly, but we know he is now at peace. We love you and miss you, forever.

In lieu of flowers, financial contributions in memory of Philip can be made to American Parkinson Disease Association Florida Chapter.

https://www.apdaparkinson.org/community/ways-to-give/donate/