J. Philip Denison RIP

It is with a heavy heart that I share with you the sad news of the passing of Phil Denison.  I know you are all aware that he had been very ill over the past few months. 

He was a dedicated Rotarian who helped make a difference in our communities and the world through his service as Chair of our clubs International Service Committee.  He also made tremendous contributions to the YMCA in his lifetime.  For your convenience I have attached his obituary below.  I hope all of you can make it to the Celebration of  Phil's Life on Saturday October 4th at 11:00 am at Trinity Episcopal Church

Yours in Service,

Ken Farley

Life Legacy

J. Philip Denison passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family, on September 22, 2014.

He was born November 14, 1935 in Huntington, Indiana, son of Cornelia and W. Harold Denison.

After graduating from Denison University he met and married his wife of 54 years, Marsha. They settled in Simsbury Connecticut where they raised their two daughters and resided until they retired and moved to their home in Ocean Park Maine, where they have summered for many years.

He started his career with CIGNA where we worked for many years before becoming a founding Partner of New England Capital Planner, a Financial Consulting and Investment Advisory Firm.
He had a lifelong passion and commitment for his volunteer work with the YMCA on a Local, National and International level.
On the local level, he was a past Chairman and honorary member of the Board of Managers of the Farmington Valley Branch of the Greater Hartford YMCA as well as a past member and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Northern York County Family YMCA in Biddeford, Maine.
Nationally, he was an eight year member of the National Board of Directors of the YMCA of the USA and a member for many years of the International Committee of the US YMCA. As part of his service he was a member of the Jerusalem Development Task Force, as well as an ex-officio member of the Board of Directors of the Jerusalem International YMCA and Trustee of the Nazareth, Israel YMCA.
Internationally, he completed two terms as a member of the Executive Committee of the World Alliance of YMCA’s in Geneva serving on several finance committees as well as the Israel-Palestine Task Force.
As part of his international work over the years he visited YMCA’s in more than thirty-five different countries around the world.
In 2002, he received the R.C. Knox Award for outstanding volunteer leadership and then in 2004 he received the Harold C Smith Award for “Distinguished YMCA Service” recognizing his contribution as a volunteer for the YMCA at the local, national and International level,
This past July the YMCA of Southern Maine honored him by creating the J. Philip Denison International Fund that is committed to providing support and spreading his passion for the youth served by YMCA International Work.
His dedication to community service also extended to many other organizations where he volunteered as an active member of the Ocean Park Association, Rotary Club, Seeds of Hope, and the Salvation Army
He is survived by his wife Marsha and their two daughters, Kristin Denison, Karen and her husband David Ix and three grandchildren Matthew, Christopher and Sarah, two brothers Robert and his wife Carla Denison, David and his wife Marcia Denison and several loved nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the YMCA J. Philip Denison International Fund c/o Northern York County YMCA, 3 Pomerleau St, Biddeford, ME 04005, the Ocean Park Maine Association or Trinity Episcopal Church of Saco Maine.

A celebration of his life will be held Saturday October 4th at 11:00am at Trinity Episcopal Church with a reception to follow. On line condolences may be expressed at www.cotefuneralhome.com