David Phillips

Madison - David B. Phillips, October 5, 1946 – February 13, 2020, It is with both a sense of sadness and happiness we announce the passing of David Beltran Phillips - our friend, father, and dear Pop-Pop. His death marked the completion of a life filled with smiles, love, laughter, adoring pride in his children and grandchildren and thankfulness for the care and compassion of friends and family over the last few years. The happiness we feel is that his physical difficulties and challenges are now over.

David was born to Anna (Dee-Dee) and Beltran Phillips in Charleston West Virginia in 1946. After his dad’s death in 1960, David was raised by his strong, independent, and wonderfully kind mother Dee-Dee, his role model for how to be a good parent. His sister Sandy became an extraordinarily competent babysitter for David. Their relationship grew over the years to be one of respect, love, comfort and caring that was important to both. Brother-in-law, Dan was an important part of that relationship too. David's niece Julie and nephew Doug hold a special place in David's heart.

David grew up in Baltimore and attended the University of Maryland for both undergraduate and graduate school. He was an all-State athlete in football and lacrosse and is in the Athletic Hall of Fame at Friends, his high school, as a member of the 1963 Maryland State high school Championship Lacrosse Team. Moving to Madison in 1974, he became an avid Badger and Packers fan. He worked in banking in Madison, Milwaukee, and Racine and was actively involved in a variety of civic and social groups in each community ranging from Downtown Rotary to Goodwill to Friends of Monona Terrace to Badger State Games, rising to leadership positions in each. Devoted to local economic development, he worked at Downtown Madison Inc. and the Stoughton and Verona Chambers of Commerce. And most recently, he was the Director of Economic and Workforce Development for the Dane County Executive Office.

Partner, confidante, and friend Susan was the lynchpin to making David’s life on this earth the joyful, happy time that it was. After meeting at work in the same management training program at First National Bank of Maryland, they started their life together in Baltimore and later moved the family to Wisconsin. Always the positive, confident “doer” in the family, she was the driving force that created the environment of joy and happiness that existed on so many levels in the family. Their time together was not just dedicated to kids and then grandkids but to working in banking, foundations, chambers of commerce and many civic and community groups. Even in distinctly different career paths they functioned well as a team supporting each other’s efforts and successes.

Of all the aspects of his life in which he continually felt the most love and pride, his children - Jennifer, Josh, Maggie, and Kate - were number one followed closely by the joy and love he felt for each of his 12 grandchildren. Times spent with George, Lewis, Elliot, Charlie, Lucy, Will, Joe, Olivia, Max, Lily, Scarlett and Jake were treasured moments. Family gatherings were always joyous occasions- despite the frustrations of trying to take a family photo. Getting twenty-two smiling faces in a single photo was a feat achieved annually only by the strong-willed family matriarch, Susan. Spouses Ed, Cassie, Jamie and Mike were important parts of the family each one playing significant roles in the loving, supportive Phillips family. Sister-in-law Laurie was a particularly supportive and important part of David’s family life, sharing the love of hunting in Wisconsin, fishing on Captiva, and sharing a good scotch. Many amazing vacations and time at the farm were spent with David's family and the Peter Derse family: Marcia, Sam, Emily and Molly.

Imagining the next step in one’s life is not hard when you think about the wonderful steps you have already taken. For David, that next step might well be a calm, beautiful beach on North Captiva. For over twenty years, the entire family enjoyed each other’s company during spring vacations on this island paradise - swimming, fishing, playing tennis, and generally reveling in the beauty and tranquility of this “heaven on earth”. One of the most enjoyable parts was eating fresh grouper caught, cleaned, and cooked by David. Of course, the meal included Cran’s (Josh’s name for David) black bean soup and his special citrus reduction sauce.

Sadness and happiness are not mutually exclusive feelings especially with David’s passing. Briefly be sad that he is gone but replace that moment of grief with the happiness that he is in a better place - once again walking tall with his mom Dee-Dee, his dad Beltran, in-laws Philip and Teddy, lifelong friend Paul, brother-in-law Peter, and, of course, Tiva and Bernie, his canine buddies.

A celebration of David’s life will be held on Friday, February 28, 2020, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. at NAKOMA GOLF CLUB, 4145 Country Club Rd, Madison, WI 53711 in Madison, WI.

Please celebrate David’s life by sharing a dinner surrounded by those you love. Tip your drink to the sky knowing David is toasting with you.