Philip H. Woods ’59

Phil died Sept. 9, 2017, in Rockport, Maine, from complications of pituitary cancer.

Born in 1936 in Albany, N.Y., he attended Phillips Exeter Academy, where he played hockey, played in the band, and joined the debating club. At Princeton he majored in English, was active in the advertising and selling forum, and played interclub hockey and touch football for Campus Club. He roomed with a substantial portion of its ’59 section: Jim Bennett, Dave Driver, Seth Montgomery, Topper Oakes, George Rosenthal, and Jim Wade.

After graduation he earned an MBA at Stanford, then earned a master’s degree in communications research. Thus equipped, Phil joined Young & Rubicam, working first as an account executive, and then moved to the corporate side, followed by work in product management for Nestle and General Foods.

In 1973, he formed an independent practice as a product-marketing consultant to major consumer-product companies that continued until he retired. He fulfilled a lifelong dream by publishing Charlie Morse: Ice King & Wall Street Scoundrel, an account of his wife’s distant cousin, after retirement.

Phil was predeceased by his son, Andrew. He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Evelyn; his children from a previous marriage, Wendy and Alexander; stepchildren Tamzyn Palmer and Talbot Freeman; and 10 grandchildren. We have sent condolences.