Philip Myers

Philip F. Myers of Fort Collins died Sunday, March 5, 2007. He was born in Springfield, Mass., on Feb. 16, 1915, to Florence Walberg and Rene Myers. A member of Phi Beta Kappa, Phil graduated magna cum laude from Brown University in 1938. In 1943, he met and married Jean Wetmore. After WWII broke out he attended a 14-month intensive U.S. Navy Japanese/Oriental Language Training at the University of Colorado in Boulder. He served in the Navy as a Naval Intelligence Officer, specialist in Japanese language translation and interpretation. At the close of the war he spent time as a language interpreter in Tokyo, Japan. In 1947 Phil completed his M.ED at Springfield College, Springfield, Mass. He went to work at the Connecticut Junior Republic first as a social studies teacher and then as Public Relations Director. He and his wife Jean also served as cottage parents for 20 boys. Phil joined the professional fundraising firm of Tamblyn and Brown in 1957. In 1959, he became the director of development for Wittenberg University, Springfield, Ohio. He spent the rest of his career working for a number of private liberal arts colleges as development director and vice president for development. In 1983, members of the medical community approached Phil to help launch the American Federation for Aging Research Ohio Affiliate, a task he completed in 1985 when he retired. Phil was a member of several civic organizations and civic clubs. He served as a lieutenant governor of the CT Kiwanis Club and received awards for his volunteer efforts on behalf of the Columbus, Ohio Chamber of Commerce. Phil continued to be active in retirement and especially enjoyed helping his wife Jean when she taught line dancing at several Columbus, Ohio, senior centers. Phil and Jean moved to Fort Collins in 2003 to be near their daughter Francine and her husband Jim. He loved living at the Worthington and developed close friendships with the residents. Phil had great fun performing in the Worthington's annual variety shows and serving as "DJ Phil" for Jean's line dance class. He is survived by Jean, his wife of 63 years; his daughter, Francine Purdom Jim of Fort Collins; a granddaughter, Dr. Laura Wolsko Peter of Broomfield; a grandson, Jim Purdom Kelly of Atlanta; and two great grandchildren, Mathew and Luke Wolsko. A celebration of life will be at a later date in Worthington. Contributions may be made to Larimer County Humane Society, in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel. Friends may send condolences to the family at www.bohlenderfuneralchapel.com .