Philip Bernard Sanfilippo II's Obituary
Philip Bernard Sanfilippo II
On September 21st, 2024 Philip transitioned to a different existence, one where he joined his beloved Loren Jeanne Mahon and other loved ones. We are grateful for Philip’s 66 years of life and the positive impact he had on all those he loved and cared for.
Philip was born in San Mateo, California to parents Josephine Marie Sanfilippo and Philip Bernard Sanfilippo. Growing up in an Italian home instilled in Philip a love for family and good food. He often reminisced about his Sunday family dinners with his two sisters Sandra and Susan, his cousins, aunts and uncles, and grandparents. His father was a produce wholesaler in San Francisco and his mother was an avid cook, painter, and reader. Philip attended Bellarmine High School then went on to study Population Biology and English at UC San Diego. It was at UC San Diego where he met his wife, Loren, their friendship blooming into an enduring love story. After his undergraduate studies, Philip attended the California College of Podiatric Medicine which launched his career as a foot surgeon and podiatrist. It was in these early experiences that Philip developed and nurtured his lifelong passion for music, his calling to care for others, and his curiosity in life and spirituality.
Passion for music
Philip played the drums from a young age. In his time at Bellarmine High School, he played in the school band and a garage band with friends. In college and after college he was part of various bands that would play for weddings and small events. It was through these experiences he met some of his lifelong friends. Always keen to hone new skills as a drummer, during the pandemic Philip took up learning the Irish Bodhrán and stayed connected with friends by recording and sharing his music. Philip started playing drums at Sunday church services from a young age and continued to play as an adult at Temple Methodist Church in San Francisco and Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Belmont. Playing at Sunday services became a family affair. Every Sunday Philip would be joined by his wife Loren singing and playing guitar, his daughter Katie Rose, singing in the choir, and his son Philip III, joining him on percussion. His love of music is passed on to his children who continue to carry this legacy.
Care for and with others
Philip always wanted to be a doctor and believed deeply in his role as a care giver. After his time at the California College of Podiatric Medicine, he took part in a residency program in Louisiana where he cared for patients with Hansen's disease. After returning to California, he began work in the Wound Care Center at Seaton Hospital in San Francisco and started his own practice in Daly City. Philip’s colleagues, friends and patients always shared their appreciation for his gentle and compassionate bedside manner. He consistently dedicated time to engage with his patients, building strong connections and providing personalized care including making house calls and visiting care facilities, a practice he continued until his retirement.
His calling to care also was seen in his friendships and relationships with others. Many of his friends and family would tell stories of Philip’s generosity. He would always take the time to help, whether it was assisting in fixing something that was broken (he was a great handyman) or taking the time to listen and chat. Even throughout his illness, he continued to care for others, often putting the needs of others before his own. Philip spoke about thriving with cancer, focusing on the positives, taking the time to catch-up with family and friends, and expressing deep appreciation for the care provided by his doctors and nurses. He often reflected on the opportunities that an illness gives you to understand and grapple with your own sense of mortality and spirituality. The love and care Philip shared with all who knew him will have a lasting effect on those he cared for and those who cared for him.
Curiosity and spirituality
Philip radiated a curiosity which was infectious. Throughout his life he valued education and the opportunities it allowed for growth and further understanding. His dedication to learning and expanding his knowledge was evident in his successful career as a doctor and also in his appreciation of music, nature and his own spirituality.
He grew up Catholic but continued to explore his own spirituality throughout his life. With is partner Loren, he explored and learned from different faiths and facilitated group discussions around issues of spirituality and social justice. During the pandemic, he joined the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Redwood City. Here he continued to grow in his understanding of his own faith and felt support and love after the loss of his wife and through his journey with a terminal illness.
Philip often spoke of “awe” seeing it as a representation of the Creator’s love. He would remind people of the little moments of awe that surrounded our daily lives – in the music we listen to and make, in the birds and flowers we encounter every day, and in the moments of connection we have with loved ones. Philip experienced awe in the many travels he took with his family. These included road trips to the national parks, trips across Europe to hear his children perform, and cruises with Loren after retirement. His sharing of his world, one filled with curiosity and awe, has inspired others to be present and recognize these special moments. It is in these moments of awe that we will continue to feel his love for us.
Philip’s legacy
Philip met his wife Loren when they were both resident advisors at UC San Diego. Their love for each other was built on a friendship they fostered in those early days. Many who knew Philip and Loren described them as soul mates. After seven years of dating, including a five-year long-distance engagement, they married and their love continued to grow for the next 35 years. That love gave birth to their children Katie Rose and Philip III.
Philip’s love lives on through his children, family, and friends. He believed that death was a transition to a place where he would be reunited with those he loved. These include his beloved friend, wife and partner, Loren Jeanne Mahon, and his parents Josephine Marie Sanfilippo and Philip Bernard Sanfilippo. His immediate family that are still with us include his loving children, daughter Katherine Rose Mahon Sanfilippo, and son Philip Bernard Sanfilippo, III; his sisters Sandra Marie Ryan and Susan Jo Sanfilippo, and husband William Bruce Meier; his sisters-in-law Linda Susan Shemenski and husband John Michael Shemenski, and Lissa Ann Perrone and husband Gerard Edward Perrone, and niece Andrea Marie Ryan and husband Seth Greeley John and their children Cecilia Marie John and Celeste Greeley John.
Philip’s legacy is profound and enduring. It is woven into the fabric of our lives, reminding us to cherish every moment of awe, to share the songs we sing, to embrace the beauty of nature, and to nurture the precious moments we share with each other.
If you would like to express your gratitude for Philip, in lieu of flowers please consider a donation to one of the following organizations:
Pelican Harbor
https://www.pelicanharbor.org/donate
Or
Second Harvest of Silicon Valley
https://www.shfb.org/give-help/donate-funds/
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