I have known Jimmy since grade school and was glad to become reacquainted in recent years, in Florida. 
He will be missed by many. Sincerest condolences to Ava and the extended Phillips family, and may his memory be a blessing.

Ava, when we moved to Florida way back in 1992, we got to live with you and and your family for a short time until we got a place of our own. You and Jimmy were so helpful in making us feel welcome. Jimmy's sense of humour, and his healthy disrespect for authority, were qualities that I prized whenever I was with him. 
I'm very sad that I didn't get to see you and Jim very much these past few years, but there are many happy memories that will be a blessing to recall.

Jim not only had a great love of life but had something that eludes so many – He knew how to live. He had a keen intelligence that allowed him to be unabashedly silly but suffer no fools no matter what their supposed importance. Even with friends, that imposing physical presence could look you in the eye and pronounce one of his favourite 9 letter words - “horse----” but then before your heart could skip one more beat, that great walrus moustache would twitch and he’d be consumed by a childlike laugh that reassured you life was absurd, he had you and all would be good. 	
How horribly sad that a man possessed of such a mind, kindness and sense of humour should be taken from us well before he’d done enough living and had nearly enough fun. 
Words fall short but my sincere condolences Ava. May the memory of your wonderful partnership be a blessing.


My heart goes out to the entire Phillips family on the loss of their beloved James. He was a classmate of mine at McGill Medical School and his passing is a great loss. May his memory be a blessing for you always.
Ray Fink

I'm almost positive that nobody know me (except maybe Rhona), but I fondly remember Jimmy as my brother's oldest friend, and constant visitor at our house when we were all kids. Please accept my heartfelt condolences on his very sad passing.

To Family & Friends of Jim Phillips:  In the early days, we used to call him Jimmy -- I don't recall ever hearing him referred to as James!  I'm Richard Phillips; so Jim and I are first cousins -- his father Syd was a younger brother of my father, Irving Phillips. 

I remember when Jim became a Doctor, his father always referred to him proudly as Doctor Jim.  Jim moved south and my wife Judith and I moved west to Toronto; so we haven't seen or spent time with him in many many years. His sister Rhona kept us up to date on his whereabouts on the infrequent occasions when we visited with Rhona and Ben.  I vaguely remember Jim and I being present at our paternal grandparents' house on Jeanne Mance Street in Montreal for the famous Phillips Family Seders; and I expect with his sense of humour Jim would have contributed to the  constant teasing and laughter which prevailed at those memorable events. 
It's certainly sad when a family member passes on, despite infrequent contact.  My wife Judith and I express our condolences to Ava and all 'Doctor Jim's' family and friends.

Richard & Judith Phillips   

Dear Ava,

So sorry to hear about Jimmy’s passing.  He was so full of life.  Our thoughts are with you.

Jonathan and Carolyn Shapir 

My condolences to the family and those that are close to Jim.  It is very sad to lose  a member of our McGill medical class as such a young age. 

Lee

He was a classmate of mine at McGill Medical School and we are all proud of him. 

My condolences to those who loved him, whom he loved

Keith MacLellan, CM, BA, BSc, MDCM, FRRM

My dear friend James will be missed by me.

I have known James since nursery.
I remember when he was upset at us and pulled out my front yard shrub. Our hitchhiking across Canada adventure in our pup tent was a story  book of fun. He enjoyed coming to my house to study in my furnace room and enjoy my mother’s French fries ( his mom put in in a diet @ his house). His original Mini Cooper that had no heat and it was my job to boil a pot of water to warm us  and his job to give me a lift to McGill.

Holding his chupah pole at his home wedding was fun, and a onerous job as the Rabbi decided to give a lengthy speech.
His love for nature & adventure & sailing was a treat to hear about. He was so excited about his recent acquisition of his Carolina retreat.

I spoke to him 2 weeks ago and I am so so sorry that I can no longer do this.
I will miss you terribly.
My best to Ava and the family.
Love
Harvey



My condolences to the family. I knew Jim (or at least of him) long before med school as his family was close to some of mine (Rapkin). From the pictures on this site, he looks to have continued the fun-loving care free life I recall of him from medical school days.

Dearest Ava and family,

Please accept our heartfelt condolences on the loss of a truly fun and wonderful guy.  

Jimmy was one-of-a-kind, and will be both sadly and greatly missed

Stephen & Lorena Segal

Oskar and I send our condolences to Ava and the family from Vienna. We are deeply saddened by the loss of Jimmy. He was a great person with wonderful stories and jokes and a fantastic sense of humour. We always enjoyed spending time together with you both in Montreal and Florida. I am especially grateful that he spent time with my Dad in Florida and their visits were a highlight of my Dad's snowbird life in Fort Lauderdale. We were happy that you were part of our wedding celebration and are sad that we didn't have more opportunities to spend time together. 

We send you our sympathy, 
Michelle and Oskar

I am sorry to hear of Jim‘s passing. I last saw JIm when he visited Phoenix several years ago. We were classmates at McGill medical school as well as bunk mates for a summer at camp in the Laurentians, when he was head of outdoor activities and I was section head. I send my condolences to the whole Philips family. May his memory be a blessing to all of you.

Ava, I’m so sorry to hear about Jim’s passing. I have many fond memories from medical school, especially first year anatomy. I can clearly remember Jim pointing out and enunciating the names of the facial muscles. 

As I recall, I last saw both of you when you visited Los Angeles and we enjoyed dinner together. That was 30 years ago!

Take care. 

Franklin Tessler 

To the family of Jim Phillips:
We were classmates in the McGill class of 1977. I remember Jim well, particularly his sense of humor. I send sincere condolences to you all. May happy memories sustain you through difficult times.
Ron Laxer

Ava I was so sorry to hear about Jimmy's passing. Sue and I send our most sincere condolences. This is a most difficult time for you. Sue remembers him well when they went to camp at age 14. I have recollections from Medical School, and our (unfortunate) business venture. But I vividly remember going to your home soon after we had moved to Florida and Jimmy being so proud of his ESPN channel! I have an old graduation photo that I cropped from our class picture. 

OBITUARY

Dr. James Phillips

December 6, 1952 – October 28, 2020

Star of David Memorial Gardens Cemetery & Funeral Chapel

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Past Services

Graveside Service