Joseph I. Phillips

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Joseph I. Phillips passed away peacefully on April 5, 2023 on his 96th birthday. He was predeceased by his wife, Joslyn Phillips and all of his siblings.
Joe was born in Utica, NY on April 5, 1927, the youngest of five siblings. His family moved to Fall River MA during the Depression and then to the Syracuse area, where Joe spent most of his life. He was married in 1947 to Joslyn Bernstein. Joe served in the US Navy during WWII, and was Buglemaster at the Pensacola Naval Air Station. Music was an important part of Joe’s life, as he was concertmaster in his high school orchestra playing the viola. He played the violin up until the last few months of life. He enjoyed attending the Metropolitan Opera in NYC where he and his sister Bertha had seasons tickets.
After rejoining civilian life in 1946, Joe was employed by O’Brien and Gere Consulting Engineers as a land surveyor, eventually becoming partner. He earned his Associates degree in Civil Engineering Technology from Syracuse University in 1960. He then went on to form his own successful surveying company, Phillips and Associates, in Liverpool, NY. Following his retirement and sale of the company at the age of 88, he continued on as a consultant until the age of 90.
Joe was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hiking, camping, skiing, fishing and hunting. He often joined his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren on camping trips in the Adirondacks. He was also an active member of a hunting camp in Lowville, NY.
Joe moved to Borodino, NY in 2001 following the death of his wife Joslyn. He became active with the Borodino Fire Department, volunteering at their monthly pancake breakfasts. He also joined the American Legion Post 239 in Skaneateles. Those two organizations became an important part of his life where he made many friends. In his retirement, Joe took up several hobbies including building elaborate dollhouses, many of which he gave as gifts to family and friends.
Joe’s family includes his children Barbara Davis (Dennis Linsner), Susan Phillips, and Steven Phillips (Christine Zamora); his grandchildren Jeffrey Davis (Heidi), Shana Feissner (Robert), Rachael Davis, Evan Zamora Phillips and Sophie Zamora Phillips. He is also survived by his six great-grandsons: Alex, Tyler, Dylan and Zachary Davis, Collin and Logan Feissner, and one great-great granddaughter, Karen Mitchell.
Calling hours will be on April 10th from 10AM to 11AM, followed by a funeral service, at Sisskind Funeral Chapel 3175 East Genesee Street, Syracuse NY. Private burial will be in Rochester, NY.
Special thanks to his dear friends the Haines family, Darlene Minihkeim, Sheri Spooner and members of American Legion Post as well as Michelle and Mark Swing and members of the Borodino Volunteer Fire Department. Special thanks also to his caregivers Sandra Minor and Darlene Minihkheim and to the staff at Westminster Manor for their care and support.
Donations in Joe’s memory may be made to The American Legion Post 239 in Skaneateles, NY; The Borodino Fire Department, The Commons on St. Anthony, 3 St. Anthony St., Auburn, NY 13021, or Westminster Manor in Auburn, NY