In Loving Memory of John Harriss Phillips, Fellows Class VI

PHILLIPS, JOHN HARRISS, 27, of Winter Park, passed away of a stroke on August 4, 2011. A dedicated advocate to public service, John was a recent graduate of the Florida Gubernatorial Fellowship program, where he worked for two Governors and helped shape policy for the Florida Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles. He is survived by his mother Patricia (Patti) Phillips; sister Mary Phillips; girlfriend Andrea (Andi) Perez; and grandmother Deloris Muhlbaier. Preceded in death by father James Phillips, Jr.; sister Sarah Phillips; and grandfather Edward Muhlbaier. Memorial service to be held at First United Methodist Church of Winter Park on Wednesday, August 10 at 2:00. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Heart Association.

Dear Friends,

I want to begin by thanking all of you for your prayers and support for John. John's family and friends were given the opportunity to see how John lived his life through the overwhelming outreach they received during this difficult time. John was a special individual and his family was able to truly see his impact on others as we as a group reached out to support our friend in his time of need.

It's a strange feeling to say goodbye to someone you care for, but we must stay true to the spirit of John. John was a strong, witty, caring, and intelligent individual who never allowed himself to be complacent. I ask that as you reflect on John's memory, please do not dwell on the fact that his life was so short, but rather remember how he impacted your life. In true John fashion he would seek to find a lesson even in his passing, and I would suggest he would ask us to cherish even our worst days that we have on this earth as they are limited.

We will keep you updated as we move forward in this process, and I will let you know about our efforts to preserve John's legacy through one of several proposals we have been exploring.

I want to personally thank everyone again for your efforts, and I ask that you take a moment to send a prayer to both John and his family.

Sincerely,
Adam John Giery
Fellows Class VI