Herbert Phillips

Herbert Phillips

April 28, 2020 of Lake Bluff, IL. Herb passed away peacefully at the age of 95. Herb was born on May 25, 1924, in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, one of four children of Edward and Fannie Phillips.
Proud to have graduated from Purdue University in 1945 with a degree in mechanical engineering, Herb also attended midshipman school at Notre Dame University. As a US Navy Lieutenant JG and ship repair officer, he served in the South Pacific, constructing infrastructure for the atomic bomb tests on Kwajalein. After military service, he headed Philco Corporation's Advanced Development Laboratory in Philadelphia. There, he was credited with the first patent for a self-defrosting refrigerator.
Moving into trade association work, Herb traveled the world, representing the USA in international technical and safety standards negotiations for home appliance and electrical equipment. He was an advisor to the US Trade Representative.
He married Cecelia Brandt in 1950. They divorced in 1982 having had two children. He subsequently met and married Frada Buckman, who predeceased him after many happy years together.
Herb enjoyed inventing, and love of family and friends. He served as a founder and Hebrew School principal at Temple Beth Tikvah in Philadelphia in the 1950s, and as Vice President of Am Echod congregation in Waukegan and Lindenhurst, IL, in the 1990s. He taught courses at Swarthmore College and College of Lake County (Illinois). Purdue and several professional societies awarded him honors.
He is survived and remembered with love by sister Nadine Goldfinger, children Fred (Hyonsook Phillips) and Beth (Dennis Jensen), grandchildren Lara (Ryan Burke), Anna Phillips, Andy Jensen, Gina Phillips (David Wykes) and Simon Jensen (Mia Rosenthal), and great-grandchildren Clare and Meara Burke, and by Frada's sons Michael, Adam and David Buckman.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, no family services will be held at this time. Memorial donations may be sent to the Purdue Foundation, 403 West Wood St., West Lafayette, IN 47907, marked as contributions to the Frada and Herbert Phillips Scholarship Fund (https://tinyurl.com/yda2l2vh). www.levinefuneral.com