Philip Bates Hopkins, Jr.

It is with deep sadness that we share with you the passing of Philip B. Hopkins Jr. Born on December 5, 1937 in Holyoke, MA, Phil grew up in Massachusetts, raised a family in Connecticut and retired in North Carolina. Growing up in the Northeast, he attended The Loomis school for boys, which eventually became Loomis Chaffee college preparatory school. It was while at Loomis that he met a young woman, Betty Pease, who would become his soulmate of 62 years. Betty and Phil raised a family of three, traveled and explored many places and were by each other’s sides through all of life’s ups and downs. Working multiple jobs while attending night school, Phil sacrificed for his family above all else. Always present, he would attend any family event, from baby showers to weddings to birthday parties - with a plaid bowtie, a button-down shirt and a contagious grin. Known as a marshmallow and a love magnet – everyone wanted to be with Hop for his warm hugs, his contagious smile and his sweet tenderness!

A born leader, Phil found himself in various leadership roles throughout his lifetime – in the U.S Army as a Communications Security Specialist with the rank of Sargent, at CIGNA insurance organization as an HR leader in the Investment Group for 28+ years, and at Duke University’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) as President. In 2009, the university awarded both Betty and Phil, The Bill Wright Award for Distinguished Leadership. Phil served and participated in OLLI for over twenty years.

More recently, Phil led the residential council at the Atria Southpoint Walk community where he organized residential meetings, participated in a variety of socratic classes and of course never missed the opportunity to raise a glass of wine with his friends during the evening happy hours. His ability to develop a sense of community, to inspire others with a strong vision of the future and listen deeply to understand each individuals’ needs made him a leader others trusted and wanted to follow. He had a keen sense of humor, deep curiosity in others and an unrelenting zest for life that built strong connections enduring over distance and decades.

As the leader of his family, he set a strong example by investing in his relationships. As the youngest in his family, he was the mischievous little brother to his three sisters - Patty, Bobbi and Reddy. As their families grew, Phil consistently made time to be with his sisters with weekend family trips and holiday gatherings. As a father – he was always there to lend an ear, share some advice, provide a shoulder or partner in problem-solving. You’d know if you made Phil upset by the shade of red that would spread out over his cheeks, ears and the top of his head. More often, you knew Phil was happy or filled with awe when you saw his eyes welling up with tears. He was proud of his children and their dedication to their careers and their families. After retirement moved them South, Phil made time for trips to Connecticut and California to spend quality time with his children and grandchildren and could be seen playing games on the floor with the kids, dressing up in tutus, hanging spoons on his nose, eating cookies (his favorite) and making up new lyrics to familiar songs. The twinkle in his eye told it all, he had never grown up!

In the Hopkins family, he was seen as the joyful, effervescent “life of the party,” everyone’s favorite uncle, grandfather and friend. He is survived by his son Philip B. Hopkins III and daughter-in-law Lori Hopkins, of Windsor CT; his daughter, Pamela P. Hopkins and daughter-in-law DeeDee Bollong of Oakland CA; and his sister, Louise Fisher of Bloomfield CT. The light of Phil’s eye will always be his five grand-children - Philip DelTatto of Jacksonville FL, Rebecca Hopkins of Wethersfield CT, Alyssa Rosenbluth of Newington CT, Tim Hopkins of Woodstock GA and Luci Hopkins-Nickel of Oakland CA and three great-grandchildren – Paige Rosenbluth, Olivia Forrester and Walker Hopkins. Phil was preceded in death by his daughter Carol Hopkins Brusa and his wife Betty Hopkins.

Per Phil’s request, a private family service will be held and in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the program that meant so much to him, Duke’s OLLI – [Osher Lifelong Learning Institute]. Please make checks out to “Duke University” with OLLI at Duke on the memo line and in memory of Phil Hopkins. Additional details can be found at: http://learnmore.duke.edu/OLLI.

A memorial bench in the town of Beaufort on the Carolina coast honors Betty’s passing and now Phil will join her there – a place that brought both of them so many joyous moments. The Hopkins family is under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service. Online condolences: www.hallwynne.com – select obituaries.