Francis R. Phillips

FRANCIS R. (FRANK) PHILLIPS, B.A., M.A., Ph.D.

Frank passed away peacefully on August 26, 2016 in Orillia, Ontario.  He was the son of the late Arthur and Bessie (Gorham) Phillips.  Frank was born on December 3, 1926 in Saint John, New Brunswick; often called the Loyalist City.  Gorham ancestors were original Loyalists.  He grew up in Saint John, attended Catholic public schools in Saint John, and completed his high school education at St. Michaels College School, Toronto.

In 1947 he graduated from Teacher’s College, Fredericton and taught at St. Andrews, Escuminac, Leonardville and Minto.  He later graduated from the University of New Brunswick with a B.A., and from the University of London, England, with an M.A. and Ph.D.  In 1965 he joined the Faculty of Education at Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.  During his tenure at Saint Mary’s he served on the Board of Governors from 1989 to 1992.  He was outstanding as a teacher, and was awarded The Reverend William A. Stewart Medal for Excellence in Teaching in 1992.  He was above all, a dedicated researcher and had written a number of published articles as well as two books:  “Bishop Beck and English Education”, and “Creating an Education System in England and Wales”.   He retired from Saint Mary’s University in 1995 as a full professor.  During his retirement years, he continued his interest in writing and published a novel entitled, “Like the Whistling of the Wind”.  At the time of his passing, he was putting finishing touches to his research on Robert O’Brien, a well-known British lawyer and educator, and completing a play entitled “Bill and Hilary”.

Frank is survived by his beloved wife, Adeline, two daughters, Frances (Daniel Wise), Toronto, and Catherine (partner Lisa Loewen), Orillia, Ontario; grandchildren Isabelle, Thomas, Genevieve and Jakob; sisters, Elizabeth, Rothesay, Marjorie, Rothesay, and Jacklyn Coyle, Bedford; six nieces and nephews, as well as grandnieces and grandnephews. Sincere appreciation is extended to Dianne and Arthur Horne for their love and care of Uncle Frank.

He was predeceased by his parents, Arthur and Bessie Philips and his dear brother Rev. William Phillips.

Frank was a long time member of Canadian Martyrs Church, Halifax. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated from the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 91 Waterloo Street on Wednesday, August 31st at 12:05 p.m. Interment will take place in St. Joseph's Cemetery.

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