Frank Philip Handy ’67

Phil died March 7, 2024, in Orlando, Fla.

He graduated from Northfield Mount Herman Preparatory School in Massachusetts, where he was an honor roll student, member of the Cum Laude Society, yearbook associate editor, and played varsity football, basketball, and lacrosse. 

Phil followed his father, Francis 1926, and cousin Alex Weech ’55 to Princeton. He majored in economics, joined Cap and Gown, was an Undergraduate Council member, a Keyceptor, and a head cheerleader, and played lacrosse, squash, and rugby. He roomed with John Faggi and Doug James.

Phil graduated in 1970 from Harvard Business School and joined Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette. From 1968 to 1974 he served in the Army Reserve. In 1974, he became CEO of CommBanks in Winter Park, Fla. He invested in real estate and was director of the REIT Great American Management and Investments. From 1996 to 1999 Phil served as managing director of Equity Group Corp. His last 10 work years involved successful restructuring of Strategic Industries.

Phil was state chairman of the Jeb Bush for governor campaigns, co-chair of the John McCain 2008 Florida presidential campaign, chairman of the Florida State Board of Education, and vice chairman of the National Board of Education Science. He was a board member of the Hoover Institution at Stanford and an adviser on education policy and government at Harvard’s Kennedy School. 

Phil was married to his first wife, Gail, for more than 30 years, and they produced children Kate, Breck, and Abigail. His second wife, Barbara Heller, brought him seven children from her previous marriage, and they were together for 16 years until his death.