Obituary

Pamela Montooth’s memories of Phyllis J. Filippo:

After a full life of 96 years on this earth, Phyllis J Filippo passed away peacefully at her residence in Huntington Beach, California, surrounded by her closest family –niece Pamela and Russell Montooth, niece Claudia Fletcher and loving caregivers Connie and Diane.

Mentally sharp until the end with a perpetually uplifting sense of humor, Phyllis was a ​woman of great beauty in body and spirit,  a proud and generous family member and supporter of her friends and family. She was blessed her entire life with close companions and an unending source of energy that she shared with all around her.

She was born just before the start of the Great Depression in the Chicagoland area. She was the granddaughter of a Norwegian immigrant woman who bravely boarded a ship to this country in search of a better life. Times were tough for their family, as they were for most, with both parents having to work and even the children having to pitch in sometimes to put food on the table. She and her brother, Howard, were often cared for by extended family. Instead of her hard-working parents. Some of her sweetest memories were the times she and her brother, cousins and friends got to play in the cold waters of Lake Michigan on warm summer days.

The family moved to Texas sometime later, where Phyllis grew up and eventually found work as an office nurse on an Air Force base. This led her to her first marriage, at a very young age, to a WWII Air Force combat pilot. Unfortunately, as many very early marriages do, it ended almost before it began.

Claudia Fletcher’s memories of Phyllis:

I still remember the first time I met my Aunt Phyllis—her pretty blonde hair blowing in the wind, wearing her signature friendly smile and waving from the Long Beach airport tarmac. She looked so happy to meet this teenaged niece of her husband, my favorite Uncle Don, who had decided to spend Spring Break with them in California. From there, she took me out to a great Mexican lunch and shopping at a nearby mall. The perfume she picked up that day, Halston, invokes the memory of young, vibrant auntie Phyllis to this day. It was the fun start of a great friendship with my beloved Aunt.

Although she wasn’t blessed with children of her own, she would’ve been a fantastic mother, and I have always counted her as another to me.  Always selfless and caring, she took loving care of my cousin’s three small children for two years after the untimely death of my cousin Lisa, and stayed in touch with the youngest, Ross, ever since.  She and my Uncle had a happy and loving marriage and travelled extensively after their retirement from the California State University system, where they had met 20 years before. One of their favorite destinations was China, just after the country had opened to tourists. They also cruised to Alaska several times and toyed with the idea of retiring in Costa Rica. They enjoyed their home in rural Greenville, CA until moving to Las Vegas so she could take care of her ailing mother.

 While still in California, she and Uncle Don facilitated the resettlement of a colleague and friend he had known while doing a fellowship in Belgrade after war broke out in the Balkans. The Omic family—Omi, Snezina, Damir and Edo became very close to both my Uncle and Aunt and remained so until her recent passing. The senior Omic’s still reside in the Sacramento area while their very successful sons are working and living in Brussels and Copenhagen.

A few years after the sad and sudden passing of my uncle after arriving in Nevada, she met and married Mr. Ralph Filippo, who preceded her in death on December 19, 2019. Ralph was a proud Navy veteran of the WWII era who had been born and raised in Brooklyn and though he moved with his parents to Northern California as a teenager, he never lost that think Brooklyn brogue!

Ralph and Phyllis enjoyed twenty happy years together in Las Vegas, Texas and back in Southern California, which had always been their true home.  They had fun partaking in the retirement village activities, dining out and taking the occasional cruise as well as visiting with family and friends. She spent her free time taking care of Ralph who bravely fought prostate cancer for 25 years and volunteering for a local church, even though she wasn’t very religious herself.

Phyllis had a full and interesting life! She was a loving, sweet, fun and funny person—who enjoyed a daily glass of wine or shot of Bailey’s. She was a wife, step-grandmother and auntie to so many of us and is already missed by all. We hold her in our hearts as an example of how we should always try to be—friendly, caring, fun-loving and gentle. We all love you, Auntie Phylllis!

Memories of Ralph Anthony Filippo by Ralph Jr: 

Ralph Anthony Filippo, aged 91, passed away on December 19, 2019, in Laguna Woods, California. Born on August 31, 1928, in Brooklyn, New York, Ralph was a man of diverse talents and unwavering spirit.

Ralph’s early life in Brooklyn saw him graduate from Fort Hamilton High School before he joined the U.S. Navy in 1946. His naval career, which lasted until 1950, took him to the Mariana Islands and Guam. He was notably stationed at Treasure Island, where he became the editor of the Masthead, the Naval Station’s newspaper, showcasing his knack for storytelling and attention to detail.

Post-military service, Ralph capitalized on the GI Bill to attend the New York Institute of Photography, which paved the way for his initial career at Lorstan Studios in New York City. His career trajectory shifted when he moved back to San Francisco in the early ’50s, transitioning into photographic equipment sales with Ansco/GAF. His business acumen shone brightly when he took a bold step in 1974 by purchasing and operating Harry’s Deli in downtown Los Angeles, a venture he cherished until his retirement.

Ralph’s outgoing personality made him a beloved figure in his community and among his peers. He was a man who easily filled any room with his charisma and warmth.

He is survived by his son, Ralph Lawrence Filippo. Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Maryann Sanfilippo; his brother, Louis Sanfilippo; and his nephew, George Sanfilippo.

Dear family and friends, surely you have fond memories you’d like to share and would like to attend the interment ceremony and/or have lunch together immediately afterwards:

September 30th, 2024, starting at 12:30 p.m.

            Miramar National Cemetery

            5795 Nobel Drive

          San Diego, CA 92122 (near the Marine Corps Air Station)

            Seasons 52-San Diego

            4505 La Jolla Village Dr.

            San Diego, CA 92122

             Directions to Seasons 52

 The short service will be outdoors, so dress accordingly for the ocean breeze.