Harry Purcell Phillips Jr. ’45

Harry Phillips died Mar. 14, 2003, in Durham, N.C., from complications of Parkinson's disease.

Harry, a prominent leader in the Presbyterian Church, entered Princeton from Peabody HS in Pittsburgh. He received a degree in English summa cum laude and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa in 1945. Thereafter, he entered Princeton Theological Seminary, from which he was ordained a minister in 1946. In 1950, he was awarded a theology degree from the U. of Edinburgh, Scotland, and in 1951 was ordained to the ministry of the Presbyterian Church. Westminster College in Fulton, Mo., awarded Harry a doctor of divinity degree in 1964.

Prior to becoming the executive presbyter of the Presbytery of NYC in 1974, Harry served in pastorates in Mendham, N.J., St. Louis, and Dallas–Fort Worth. As executive presbyter, he was the chief administrator for the governing body of more than 100 Presbyterian churches in NYC.

Harry was predeceased by his wife, the former Joanna Beattie. His survivors include his brother, the Rev. James M. Phillips '49; three sons, Harry III, John, and Bruce '78; and five grandchildren. The class expresses its sympathy to all the family.

The Class of 1945