Brother Thomas McPhillips, 63
Brother Thomas McPhillips, 63, a La Salle University biology professor and band leader, died Thursday, June 6, of cardiac arrest at a Philadelphia home for Christian Brothers where he lived.
Brother Thomas McPhillips, 63, a La Salle University biology professor and band leader, died Thursday, June 6, of cardiac arrest at a Philadelphia home for Christian Brothers where he lived.
Brother Thomas was all about La Salle. The school's president, Brother Michael J. McGinniss, eulogized him as "a La Salle star."
"He was an excellent teacher and researcher, committed to students as an adviser and friend, and, above all, a man of faith, integrity, and compassion," Brother McGinniss said. "He will be sorely missed."
Brother Thomas graduated from La Salle in 1972, then earned his master's degree in biology from Villanova University in 1977 and his doctorate in virology from Baylor College of Medicine in Texas in 1984.
His first assignment was teaching biology at La Salle College High School in 1972. From 1978 to 1979, Brother Thomas taught at South Hills Catholic High School in Pittsburgh.
After earning his doctorate, Brother Thomas joined La Salle's biology department. He taught introductory biology to science majors as well as microbiology, biochemistry, human biology, human genetics, and radiation biology.
His signature greeting to a.m. classes was, "Good morning, biology fans!"
He also taught budding science teachers preparing for high school classrooms, and supervised them as they did their student teaching.
During his first year at La Salle, Brother Thomas became adviser to the jazz and pep bands. He immediately invigorated both and played the trombone at sports events.
"The band is one of my greatest joys. It's being with the students that I love the most," he told La Salle's student newspaper in 1999.
Brother Thomas played the piano as a child, but switched to the trombone in high school. As an adult, he traveled to Vienna, drawn by its musical heritage.
Brother Thomas was born and raised in Philadelphia's West Oak Lane section. While a student at La Salle High School, he saw how much the Christian Brothers enjoyed teaching. That realization helped influence him to join the order.
"I can remember having the love of teaching instilled in me at that point," he told the student newspaper.
In 1994 to 1995, Brother Thomas taught in the Middle East, at Bethlehem University in the West Bank, a school operated by the Christian Brothers. The student body was Muslim.
Brother Thomas was awarded summer study grants to do research at the University of Maryland. He participated in a study that led to the naming of a new genus of virus. He was the author of 24 scientific publications.
Surviving are a brother, two nieces, and a nephew.
A viewing will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 11, in the De La Salle Chapel on the La Salle campus, 1900 W. Olney Ave., followed by a Funeral Mass at 7 p.m. Burial will be at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 12, in the Christian Brothers cemetery in Beltsville, Md.