Phillip Winston Warren
February 1st, 2022
Phillip Warren, 89, avid music lover and musician and beloved educator, peacefully passed away on February 1, 2022, in his home in Ladner, BC. He was born on April 25, 1932, in Grinnell, Iowa. He met the love of his life, Dee, in 1957 and they were married shortly after. He lived a long & full life and is survived by their three children: Julie, Jennifer and Jonathan; his four grandchildren: Christine (Dennis), Jeannine, Daniel and Alex (Natassia); his two great-grandchildren: Madeleine and Michael; as well as his niece Sheri and nephew Russell (Carol).
Phil will be remembered for his dry wit, intellectual curiosity, passion for music and love of travel. He met the love of his life, Dee, in Minnesota in 1957 and they married the next year. They started a family before moving from Minnesota to Canada in 1969, landing first in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan before settling in Ladner, BC in 1971. In BC, Phil continued his career as a Professor of Psychology and they purchased their beloved home. Phil spent the majority of his professional life working at Kwantlen University College where he retired in 1998 and then received Professor Emeritus status in 2000. He touched countless lives in his 25 years of teaching at Kwantlen. His love of music began as a child when he learned to play the flute, and that initial spark grew into a proper obsession when he later learned to play the clarinet and saxophone. He was a dedicated and enthusiastic member of the Delta Concert Band for over 40 years. Phil and Dee’s lives were filled with music, and he played countless concerts and performances over the years with both the concert band as well as the Dixieland jazz band. He was also an avid gardener, and he took pride in tending to his garden alongside his wife. He and Dee travelled the world including Hawaii, Great Britain and Europe among many other places and had many adventures together. Over the years they amassed an impressive art collection; a trip to their home was akin to visiting an art gallery. Phil and Dee enjoyed over 60 years together and it was clear that they loved life; their days were spent making memories watching symphonies, plays, and performances together. Above all they valued time spent with family and friends recounting and reveling in their many adventures.
A private memorial service will be held on Friday, February 18, 2022, for family only.
In lieu of flowers donations to the Delta Concert Band https://mycharityfund.ca/charity/14455/delta-community-band-society in memory of Phil would be appreciated.
Messages:
I am so sad to hear this news. I've met both your parents and have worked with your father, via email for many years. I loved getting the Christmas letters that always kept me up to date with what your dad and your family was doing. I am working to keep Radiant Energies Balance alive and in the world. I think he would like to know that Pathways to Wholeness is in the republication process - that was the first book that included Radiant Energies Balance. Many blessings to you and your whole family. I will be present for the live stream.
Our sincere condolences for the passing of your father, my colleague and friend for 50 years. He and I arrived at Douglas College in the fall of 1972. We were part of the expansion of the psychology department at that time. The college admin hired five new faculty in the department as the college moved into wooden buildings and so began the history of what was to become Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Phil was a good friend as well as an inspirational mentor over all of those years. It was with great joy that I was able to attend his 60th wedding anniversary and share time with him and your mother. Special times.
Dear Julie, Thank you for letting me know about your father's passing. Please accept my sympathy to you, your brother and sister. How sad that now both of your parents are deceased. Phil was my cousin on my maternal grandmother's Warren side of the family. I sent him a Christmas card but have not heard directly from him for several years. I am almost 94 years old and more and more it's becoming hard for me to keep memories of relationships straight. I live here in State College, PA at Foxdale Village, a Quaker related continuing care facility. I still live independently in a cottage, and am reasonably healthy, so have lots to be thankful for. Hopefully Spring is around the corner and Covid is on its way out ! Condolences to you and your siblings
My heart goes out to you all Phil has such a special place in my families heart. He was an incredible man…He thought outside of the box and he helped so many…my life changed permanently because of his teachings.. My thoughts and prayers are with you all at this time. I am sure he is happy to be with his wonderful wife Dee.. He will live on in your hearts.. Sincerest condolences
Phil led such a full life. He will be remembered warmly by such a diverse cast of characters!! I see Dee and Phil dancing in their garden-carefree, Dee looking up into Phil's face and smiling her beautiful smile, Phil looking down with love in his eyes. They were cherished. Thank you for letting us know of Phil's passing.
In remembering our dear friend Phil, with our precious Emma Dee by his side, I give thanks for his curiosity, engagement and generosity in sharing of so much that life offered to him. Your father was an inspiration in his devotion to his wife, family, friends, profession, and exploring the many areas of interest he enjoyed. Life well lived dear friend Phil. Rest in peace.
I am so sorry for your loss. Phil will always be fondly remembered by all the Delta Band members who knew him. He was a cherished member for so many years. We used to wish each other Happy Birthday each year as our birthdays were very close together. Please extend my condolences to the rest of the family.
I am so sorry to hear your news. Thank you so much for letting me know. Our heartfelt wishes to you and your family.
Phil was a memorable character, loving husband and father, and someone who shared their talents and knowledge. That is a full life. I'd say my life was enriched by his being and I am grateful for that. Rest In Peace Old Friend. Love you all
How sad to hear of Phil's passing, even though I know he hasn't been in the best of health lately. Hopefully, he and Dee are enjoying each others company again, free of all the challenges they had to face. I have always had a great regard for Phil, especially as a founder and supporter of the Delta Community Band Society that sponsors the Delta Concert Band, and as a fine clarinet player. We had many happy times playing in the DCB, but especially in our Tailgate Jazz Band, as a featured group with the band, and for several other occasions, including playing on the deck of a paddle wheeler that motored from the dock at Sharkey's to Steveston and back. If conditions were otherwise, we would be honoring Phil by playing at his funeral. We will certainly be dedicating a concert to him when we are able to do so. My condolences to all the family.
I am so sorry (and feel so guilty). A good man and fantastic musician. I am so thankful to have had the privilege of being his friend these past 30 or more years. My best wishes to you and Jennifer and Jon and to all your family.
We are sending our heartfelt condolences to you and your children and grandkids. The world has lost some of its music, its humor and its wisdom in the loss of Phil. We had such fun times with them at their crazy parties and all the dinners, plays and concerts. Dee befriended me when I arrived at the library - age 27 and a few weeks pregnant. They kind of took us under their wings as we were 15 years younger, American, and with no family here. I will never forget their kindness and care.
What a sorrow. Phil and I went way back in our friendship as fellow musicians in the Delta concert band and in the venerable Ellington rehearsal band in which Phil got in some great licks on clarinet. We'll miss you buddy.
Thanks so much Julie for letting me know about Phil. I'm shocked and saddened to hear of his passing, and wish I'd stayed in closer touch after my own retirement from Kwantlen. The last time I saw your Dad was just before Covid, at a retired faculty event in December 2019. We had a good catch-up conversation, and I was very happy to reconnect with him. He was a tower of support and friendship to me during my time at Kwantlen, and most particularly during my painful divorce from my first husband. I'll never forget his kindness, compassion, wisdom, intellectual curiosity and endearing quirkiness. He was one-of-a-kind, and is fondly remembered by all of us in the Psychology Department who knew him. My most heartfelt condolences to you and your family,
Phil was a witty and compassionate man, and I know your family and friends will miss him.
I travelled with Phil to Delta band for many years carpooling and enjoying good conversation. In his later years, he joined our Loades of Music Senior Band and we were very appreciative of his expertise on First clarinet. The tables were reversed and we drove him to the concerts. He will be missed for his faithful attendance and support of our senior band. Ellie Loades: conductor
My memory and feelings for Uncle Phil can be summed up in this story from about 12 years ago. I went to visit them, and they took me of course to many culturally excellent places-- music performances, art exhibitions, and the lovely gardens in the Vancouver area. We were wandering through a large garden (might have been Butchart), and Uncle Phil was wearing a T-shirt that said "Do I look like I care?" A little white-haired groundskeeper pulled up to us in a golf cart, smiled warmly at Phil and said "Ah Sir, but I think you do care" I agree with the man in the golf cart -- even though Uncle Phil had a few opinions about society, he did care quite a tremendous amount. Dee & Phil persistently stuck to their values that the best things in life are family, food, the arts, the beauty of the natural world. Uncle Phil also helped me to learn emotional clearing techniques and energy work, which have been very helpful. I appreciate their hospitality and all the things they taught me. If it's true that our spirits live on, they're welcome to drop in my place anytime.
Phil was such a dear dear man. He glowed in his love and devotion to Dee and together they had so much fun. We saw much of Dee’s Phil over our 34 years together as the Emmas. He shared some of his research with us as in the “Goddesses” project. He was open-minded, keenly curious and a deep thinker. I loved attending some of his Delta Dixieland Band with Dee, He will be greatly missed as is our dear Dee. Love and condolences to all the family, Emma Liz Kind
Julie, Jen, and Jon, I am so saddened to hear that you have lost your father, though I know that it was something you knew was coming. The only blessing about this is that Phil is again with Dee in whatever sphere we pass into after this one. Phil was such a unique individual, possessing a rare openness to new approaches to a wide range of intellectual and health-related issues. In fact, this carried over to all aspects of his character, including his love of music and art. The world was a much better place for him being in it, especially as he encouraged and challenged other minds to consider and study concepts beyond the norm. I send thanks in Phil’s memory for knowing him and for his warm and loving support for many decades. Please accept my deep condolences and love at this very sad time.
We are so sorry to hear of you Dads passing . Our condolences to you and all of you family. Jim and I think of you often and miss our dinners together.
I am very sorry to hear of your dad's passing. We met at the founding of Douglas College as brand new faculty members in a brand new college. So, Phil and I shared an office in the 1970's when Kwantlen was still part of Douglas College. We both had a lot of books and when I left in 1979 on loan to a national association of colleges in Toronto for four years he took over my bookcases and my couch and desk. It looked like the office was still fully occupied. He was able to add another function and as far as I know was able to keep the office as the sole occupant. The office was in an old white trailer that Douglas got for $1 from SFU. It was still there when Kwantlen moved to its new campus on 72 Ave in 1991- real buildings after 20 year of temporary structures. I returned from Toronto in 1983 and two years later became a dean and was able to open a PSYC lab on that old Surrey Campus on 140th. Your dad and Sara Pawson set up the lab and led it for years in addition to teaching. When we built the new Langley Campus Phil, being a musician, helped me with the hiring of the Music department, and as you may know taught courses dealing with techniques to assist musicians with performance anxiety, a major issue for many young beginning musicians and also seasoned performers. He made a lot of different contributions to Douglas and Kwantlen and had a positive effect on many lives. In 2000 he was honoured by being named Professor Emeritus of Kwantlen, the first or one of the very first to be so honoured. I knew your dad for 50 years so it's like the end of an era. My sincere condolences to each of you and all the extended family.. Roger Elmes, Dean Emeritus. KPU
We share your grief and celebrate our dear friend, Phil. May your many happy memories of time spent with this dear man ease your loss. Phil was a many faceted man so his contributions were many. He will be missed.
I had the pleasure of playing with Phil in the Delta Concert Band, Tailgate Dixieland Band and Strictly Ellington over the years and will miss him greatly. He was a bit of an eccentric but in a nice way.
I have only had the pleasure of knowing Phil for the past 7 years as a member of the Delta Concert Band. It was so evident his passion and love for music and it was wonderful to hear him continue to play at a very high level even though he was getting older. He was so dedicated and at every rehearsal and concert. We loved to see Dee there cheering him on as well. I know he will sorely missed by your family but I'm sure he is thrilled to be with Dee again and they are both smiling down on you. My condolences to you all.
We are so sorry for your loss.
A well lived life! My sincere condolences go out to all the family.
I am truly devastated to hear of Phil's passing. I had heard nothing from him since Dee's death. I loved them both so much! What remarkable people they were! They were both, in their very individual ways, extremely helpful and supportive of me during some personal trials. Phil's "Radiant Energies Balance" saved my sanity and then his meditation tapes started me off on a spiritual journey I am still exploring. Also I treasure all the books Phil passed on to me - many on subjects already of mutual interest and others which opened new doors - all with underlining and notations which are inimitably Phil. I know the loss of Dee will have already left a huge hole in your lives, which the loss of Phil only enlarges. Condolences and love to you all.
Our condolences to Julie and family on the loss of you father and grandfather❤️
We just found this information about Phil's death and wanted to add our condolences to those above. In the mid-1960's, Phil and Bud shared an office at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota where they both taught psychology. As those who know Phil and Dee, both welcomed us warmly to Minnesota and St. Cloud. Some of our fondest memories are the trips we made with them to Minneapolis where they introduced us to Caesar's [a beer bar on the West Bank], rum swizzles and curry at the Pick-Nicolett with visits to the modern art Walker Art Museum afterwards. We have been fortunate to be able to visit them off and on over the years, along with keeping in touch with the wonderful Christmas letters they sent. We have a set of Dixieland jazz with Phil on it which we often play on our travels. Our condolences to their family which they loved dearly.