Albert Shaw Phillips

albert phillips

October 28, 1954 ~ March 8, 2023


Resided in: Sanford, Maine

Light a Candle

Add a Memory to the Timeline

Sign the Guestbook

Send Flowers

Memorial Tree Plantings

Albert Shaw Phillips (“Al”), 68, of Sanford, died Wednesday March 8 in Biddeford. He was born in Sanford October 28, 1954 the son of Kenneth and Elizabeth (Donovan) Phillips. He grew up in Alfred and attended Sanford High School. Al was a woodworker early in life and it led him to several jobs over the years. He worked at Lloyd Cole Construction in Kennebunk, then Holmwoods in Dover and later at Grandpa's Workshop in Sanford. Al retired after over 20 years at the Sanford Police Station as a Facilities Manager where he thrived and he made many friends and gained the respect of his coworkers over the years. Al could be found mowing the lawns, shoveling snow, playing with the office dog, “Winston”, and helping out in many ways. He really enjoyed making peoples’ days brighter. Al was a man of many interests including motorcycles, art, wood working, being a community volunteer, and being outdoors with his family. Being a very proud Sanford-man, Al joined the Sanford Call Company as a volunteer firefighter in 2007 to help support his community. He also held a July 4th party for his friends and family every year at his apartment to watch the town fireworks. The most precious time Al was spending was with his family and especially his grandchildren, helping them learn to ride bicycles, taking them on their first motorcycle rides, and enjoying in their many hobbies. As a younger man, he even took flying lessons and practiced Jiu Jitsu. Al was an animal lover and treated his dogs and cats as his own children. Showering them and his grand-dogs with toys and love. “Blu”, “Daisy”, “Jessie”, “Cooper”, “Gracie”, “Jazz”, “Rocky”, “Bandit”, just to name a few. Mr. Phillips was predeceased by his brothers, Earl Phillips and Lee Donovan as well as both his parents. He is survived by his daughters, Jennifer Mullett and her husband Bob of Hollis and Amy Smith and her husband Stan of Raymond, NH; Tim Wing and his wife Kristin of Lebanon, ME; Chris Wing and his wife Jess of Florida; his companion, Margaret Wing of Sanford; his brothers, Edward Phillips and his wife Mary of Springvale and Raymond Phillips of East Machias; his sisters, Ellen Krause of Springvale and Nancy Giberti of Sanford, many nieces and nephews, and his grandchildren, who knew him as Albie, Charlotte and Madilyn Wing. Al’s family would like to say a special thank you to his coworkers from the town for the outpouring of support, respect, and guidance they have offered, as well as his apartment property management company. A memorial service will be announced for April at a later date to be determined by the family. Al believed in donating and serving his community. In lieu of flowers or cards please donate to your favorite charity, human or animal. Arrangements are under the direction of Black Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, Sanford-Springvale. To leave a message of condolence click on Albert's Remember Page.

View current weather.

Memories Timeline

View the Timeline Add a Memory to the Timeline

Guestbook

  1. For my father’s friends and family, we will be having a celebration of life on April 29th 2-5pm at the Elk’s lodge in Sanford.

    We are keeping it simple as Al would do, with crock-pot foods and sandwiches. Please join us – love and hugs!

    – Family from Al’s Nuthouse 🙂

    Reply

  2. Thank you all for sharing your love and stories of our Dad. We are reading these and it warms our hearts to know what he meant to everyone. Dad would want everyone to stop, take a day off from work once and a while, and just be with your family. 🙂 Time is too precious to waste!

    Reply

  3. I met Al through his participation with the Sanford Fire Department. He was a valued firefighter who could always be counted on when needed.

    Reply

  4. My deepest sympathies and condolences to Al’s family and friends. His contribution to the fire service and the community did not go unnoticed. RIP Al.

    Reply

  5. Every time I would use the toaster in the PD kitchen for 12+ years- no matter when or what day of the week it was – it was always set to nuclear burnt instantly high. I would come in each time and gripe about the toaster fairy who jacked it up to extra high daily while Al would sit in the kitchen and make small talk. We talked about my little girls and his grown girls. We’d talk about planting season and how the vegetables would do. We’d chat about tattoos and his he got in the last year- He’d show me beautiful works of art from wood he created and would often bring them in – and I’d sometimes gripe and complain about the friggen person who always jacked that toaster in super nuclear lightening high to burn the toast, every time.

    This went on for years, until his last week at work he told me it was him who dialed that toaster to instant burn every morning(hey, his toast toasted quickly that way!)

    The day you passed, I couldn’t help myself. I went in the kitchen and jacked that fricken toaster to its highest setting and sat and stared at it. I didn’t want toast, burnt toast, lightly browned, under cooked, I wished you were still there to chat and laugh with. I sat there and looked at that dial – and you weren’t there but I couldn’t help but smile, knowing you had that beautiful smile and laugh that was infectious. That come sit by and chat for an awhile atmosphere like a warm fireplace you want to just hang by for awhile and get warm .

    So I will occasionally still put that toaster dial on full dial and sit and think about you. Hopefully someone will come along and gripe about that darned toaster on the burnt setting and smile while you are smiling from above. And while we wait for the toast to toast , we will embrace the conversation that happens in between .

    Reply

  6. A tribute to my brother. I bear the burden with some difficulty of the loss of loved ones. Blessed I am to be allowed to move forward and also cursed, because in the course of time the pain will subside, but time will also steal the memories I hold so dear leaving me with a humbled emptiness’, So I honor my brother Al, four years my senior. As I witness the remembrance of him through photographs and condolences from family and friends, it gives me a level of solace and pride. My big brother did an exemplar job of finding his path in life, always there for family and friend in need. Willing to explore many of life’s offerings and challenges. So it is with great pride that I honor my brother and say for all to witness. That time will not take him, not yet! for I am not ready. I will carry him for as long as it takes for me to accept that he has ” Joined the Ages ” Not yet my brother, not yet!!! Love Edward.

    Reply

  20. Al was very dear to us and will be sorely missed. My heart is very heavy but I know that he will always be watching over us.

    Reply

  22. Al, we love you so much. Thank you for cherishing our girls the way you did. Please continue watch over them. You will always hold a very special place in our hearts ❤️

    Reply

  23. I enjoyed spending every morning with Al in the Detective division. He would stop by during his morning rounds and pull up a chair at the table. We would talk about our weekends and what he was looking forward to during retirement. As an avid lawn care hobbyist we would discuss tips and troubleshoot issues he was having with the lawn at the Police Dept. I tried to convince him to stay at the PD and we would make him a Detective! He will be missed and no one can fill his shoes here.

    Reply

  29. To Al’s family and friends.. My family lived next door to the Phillips family when I was a kid. We all played together outside. Walked to and from school etc. I just recently ran into Al and he spoke to me. He still looked like the kid I knew. Sorry for your loss..cherish the memories as they become treasures in your heart.

    Reply

Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle