Philip Mancine
Philip Mancine of Shelter Island died at Stony Brook University Hospital Aug. 17, 2015. He was 58 years old.
Phil was born on Feb. 27, 1957, in the Bronx. He graduated high school and attended continuing education classes at Hyde Park Culinary School while working his way up in the restaurant industry. He worked as a chef on Fire Island, and in St. Thomas, Vail, and Vermont where he made many friends. He then came to Shelter Island where he worked at the Shipwreck and Cargo, The Inn Between, Gardiner’s Bay Country Club, and finally Goat Hill’s Phil’s Place. Phil spent the last ten years working at the Shelter Island Hardware Store where the Gurney’s became like family to him. They were medically accommodating to him after his kidney transplants and ongoing medical treatments due to cancer.
After Phil’s first kidney transplant, he was instrumental in raising money and advocating for the building of the children’s skate park on Bowditch Road on Shelter Island. He personally raised $5,000, which the town matched for the project’s completion. More recently, Phil worked for the town Recreation Department as an aide for its open gym. He was hoping to return to work at the gym because he always had hope that he would get better. Phil was brave and strong, he never complained, and he never stopped fighting. He enjoyed life every day, no matter what.
Phil was a kind, happy, helpful and hopeful person. He loved his family, especially his nieces and nephews. Each one was so special to him. They made him so happy.
Phil is survived by his wife, Cynthia Michalak, whom he married Feb. 10, 1991 on Shelter Island; his brother, Thomas (Brooke) of Palm Bay, Fla. He is predeceased by his sister-in-law, Eleanore Crittenden and survived by her two children, Sara and Andrew; he is survived by his sister-in-law, Christine Cole (Monte) and their son, David (Meredith); his sister-in-law, Joan Tehan (Chris), their children, Andrea (Josh), Joseph (Anne), and their children, Charlie and Claire; his brother-in-law, John Michalak and his children, Ben (Nicole), Margaret and John (Megan) and their daughter, Evelyn. Phil was also pre-deceased by his nephew, Christopher Tehan and his niece, Catherine Michalak. Phil was also very close with his wife’s cousins, Jennifer Toth Beresky (John), Louis Toth and his three sons, James, Christian, and Louis (Kate) and their new baby, Lily Rose.
The family will receive visitors Thursday, Aug. 20, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Shelter Island Funeral Home. The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 21, at Our Lady of the Isle R.C. Church on Shelter Island with Father Peter DeSanctis officiating.
Phil will be cremated so he can come home to his best friend and wife, Cynthia, to the home they built and lived in for 20 years.
Please send donations in Phil’s memory to the Gift of Life Foundation who was so kind to Phil over the years and which was started in memory of a friend, Cheryl Hannabury.
This is a paid notice.
