Obituary of John Richard Phillippe

Niskayuna, NY-John Richard (Dick) Phillippe passed away in his sleep on Sunday January 31 from complications after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was 74. He was a devoted husband and father and will be deeply missed by his wife and family. Born on April 10, 1946 at Ellis Hospital, Dick was the son of the late Gerald and Jean Phillippe. Dick lived in Niskayuna until the age of 7 when he moved to Scarsdale. He attended Scarsdale High School and then transferred to Mt. Hermon School for Boys (now Northfield Mt. Hermon) in Gill MA. He graduated in 1965 and attended Union College where he majored in Economics, graduating in 1969. He was a member of Psi Upsilon Fraternity. In 1969 Dick started work as a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch on Wall Street, transferring to the Albany office in 1971. In 1978 he began working at Tucker Anthony in Schenectady where he also served as branch manager. The firm turned over several times eventually becoming RBC (Royal Bank of Canada) Wealth Management. He became a 1st Vice President while continuing to manage the office and be a financial advisor. He retired in 2015. He was considered a “dinosaur” in the business since he was a financial advisor for 46 years. He was a member of the First Reformed Church of Schenectady where he was baptized. He was also a member of the Mohawk Golf Club since the age of 18. In earlier years, he was so proud of the hole-in-one he had on the 12th hole. During his lifetime Dick served as a Deacon on the Consistory at his church, as well as the Treasurer and Chairman of the Finance Committee. He also served almost 50 years on the board of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Schenectady and was named to the Honorary Board at his retirement. He was a founding member of the Girls Inc. Foundation Trust of Schenectady (GIFTS) and was a trustee for over 10 years. In addition he served on a committee for RBC, which determined distribution of their gifts to New York State not for profits. Dick was a volunteer at Schenectady County Community College (now SUNY Schenectady) serving on the Board of Directors. He was on the SCCC Foundation board for many years and served as the Chairman of its first major gifts campaign, which was so successful that he was awarded the Higher Education Service Award by the Hudson Mohawk Association of Colleges and Universities. Dick is survived by his wife of 51 years, Cynthia (Hamilton) Phillippe, who he married on February 7, 1970 and his children and their families - Jennifer P. Connors (fiancé George Ludwig) and Griffin and Chase of Saratoga Springs; John R. Phillippe, Jr. (Jennifer) and Jack, Arlington, VA; and Jeffrey G. Phillippe (Daniela) and Dylan and Cynthia, Tyngsboro, MA. Also sisters Carol (Ted) Kramer, Silver Lake, NH; and Sue (Tom) Raschella, Bellevue, WA and several nieces and nephews. His mother in law Cynthia Hamilton of Niskayuna and brother in law Robert Hamilton of Malta also survive him. A memorial celebration service will be held at First Reformed Church of Schenectady, 8 N Church Street, Schenectady, NY 12305. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers please consider a contribution in his memory to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Schenectady, PO Box 466, Schenectady, NY 12301 or to the Niskayuna Community Foundation, c/o CFGCR, 2 Tower Place, Albany, NY 12203. Arrangements are by Jones Funeral Home, Inc., 1503 Union Street, Schenectady, NY. To leave a condolence for the family, please visit www.jonesfh.net.