The Dodger’s brought Dr. Wayne Phillips to Vero Beach, but it was the civility of the residents that enticed him to stay. Looking for the best places to play golf, he had purchased a book entitled “The Secrets of Vero Beach.” One statement caught his eye: “It’s rude to honk your horn in Vero Beach.” Having grown up and educated in the city of Boston, where the density of population often produces more than horn blowing, he was determined to make Vero Beach his home in retirement.

Retirement, however, came after 37 years of teaching at Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts. There he designed and developed the MacIntosh computer laboratory. After having only taught for a few years and, because of his military specialty in imagery interpretation, he was recalled into service when North Korea seized the U.S. spy ship Pueblo.

Upon his return from the Army and during his tenure as a full professor at the university, Wayne was asked by the president of the school to chair the campus beautification committee. This temporary position turned into a labor of love. He ended up leading the committee for 15 years. The goal was to transform the campus grounds into a jewel of a university. In gratitude, the president had a plaque and garden constructed in his honor. There is humor in this. Upon seeing the plaque, some students started to cry, thinking Dr. Phillips dead! Since he was known as a “tough” professor, one hopes these tears were not tears of joy.

Twenty years ago, Wayne and his wife Linda, had a home built in Riverwind, a Vero Beach community located at Indian River Blvd. There he chaired the Architectural Review Committee for eight years.

The transition to Indian River Estates was not without peril. Wayne and Linda moved into the community just three days before Hurricane Irma descended. He was moved by the commitment of residents and staff to pitch in and work repairing damages. Wayne continued the effort, by serving on the board of the Resident Association at Indian River Estates. Wayne is survived by his wife, Linda Phillips and his three loving god-daughters, Lindsay, Skyler, and Sydney Wagner.

Donations in Wayne’s name may be made to the Alzheimer’s & Parkinson’s Association in Vero Beach, Florida.