Paul Philp Obituary

I worked with Paul at JPII HS for 9 years. He was a friend and colleague and always had a conversation to share. He loved his cats and he and I shared cat stories often. Nice guy and one who always saw the good in people. He will be missed.

Let's not forget Paul loved cats, and there fore a donation in his name to https://gatoandino.org/en/the-andean-cat/ wouldn't be out of character.

Mr. Philp was my teacher and Academic Decathlon coach for 4 years in high school. I don't think I ever had a day on campus when I wasn't in his room, either because I had class, or because he was putting up with kids in his room before and afterschool. Mr. Philp was a brilliant teacher and seemingly knew everything. I learned so much from him, and often find myself emulating the way that he asked questions or even how he taught a particular concept in my own teaching practice. For me Mr. Philp is the platonic idea of what a teacher is. 
Mr. Philp was also a profound mentor. He listened to me and countless other teens and rather than giving advice outright, because who in the world would listen to an adult, he asked questions until we arrived at what he could have just told us. He could have saved himself thousands of hours, but he put in the work to make me and others arrive at conclusions on our own and modeled how adults make big decisions. Mr. Philp was always the adult that would listen to your problems, no matter how big or how small. I very much cringe thinking about the amount of time he spent working with me on the mountains I made out of molehills. I never got the idea that I was bothering him, and knowing how much work teachers need to be doing in those moments I was taking, I'm even more in awe of how much time he gave. 
Mr. Philp helped me research colleges, edited my personal statement, and wrote my letter of recommendation. He was a key part in my success in high school, and in college. He didn't stop there though. His email and door were always open for former students. When I realized what he probably knew years before, that I was not a medical doctor in the making, but instead deeply loved studying history he listened and helped me feel confident in changing my major and future trajectory. After I had made my decision he offered me sage advice and I left knowing I was making the right choice. I have no doubt that I found my calling and became a social studies teacher and Academic Decathlon coach because of him. Mr. Philp (never Paul, no matter how many times he told me so) continued to mentor me several other times as I started my teaching career. I don't know how he found the time to coach, teach, mentor and support current students, teach and score for the College Board and keep up and support former students, but he found it, and I'm so grateful that he did. 
Everytime I interact with a student I keep in mind the model of the conversation and support that Mr. Philip provided for me and try to emulate it as best I can. I know he inspired a multitude of students other than me, and I'm just a small part of the puzzle, but I hope he realized the impact he had on his students and that his legacy is furthered in our interactions and support of others by following his example. My students will never know that the reason I don't kick them out in the morning is that a very kind man let me live on a terrible leather couch in his room for 4 years, but anytime I'm tempted to empty the room and work in peace I think about what Mr. Philp would do and learn to enjoy the chaos.  
The world and my facebook feed are a less vibrant place with the loss of Mr. Philp, but I take solace in the incredible legacy he left and hope that others who mourn his passing can find solace in that as well.

I was a Jesuit freshman when Paul was a senior. What a great guy! Inspired me to attend the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown, which I did.

So sorry for your loss. He left us far too soon-a fierce intellect like his is rare. No doubt he enriched the lives of countless young minds.

I appreciate knowing Paul in my Jesuit Class. God bless his family.

Paul will be missed by my family. Our group dinners and conversations kept me going when the world seemed to be too much. I was very thankful for his friendship.

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.