Marian Culver Phillips of Westhampton Dies August 2 - 27 East
logo logo logo logo

Obituaries / Southampton Press / 2279935

Marian Culver Phillips of Westhampton Dies August 2

icon 1 Photo
Marian Culver Phillips

Marian Culver Phillips

authorStaff Writer on Aug 9, 2024

Marian Culver Phillips of Westhampton died peacefully of natural causes on August 2. She was 106.

Her remarkable life journey came to an end, leaving behind a legacy of love, generosity, and a profound impact on countless lives, her family said.

She was born on October 12, 1917, and raised along with her five siblings and many cousins on Baycrest Avenue in Westhampton, also known as “Culver Town.” She was the last of the Culver Town kids from her generation.

She graduated from Westhampton Beach High School and pursued her passion for teaching by earning a degree in education at Geneseo College. In 1938, she began her illustrious career at the Quogue School, where she taught second grade for over 20 years.

She loved to read and write funny tales. She was especially proud of teaching her second-graders how to read, which was passed on to her great-grandchildren, with their annual trips to the book store. Her dedication to her students and her commitment to nurturing young minds left an indelible mark on the community.

In 1939, she married her high school sweetheart, Howard Phillips. Together, they built a loving family, raising three sons: Ward (Maureen, deceased) of West Virginia; Bruce (Elaine) of Westhampton; and John (Francie) of Westhampton. Her family continued to grow, blessing her with seven grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews, all of whom brought immense happiness to her life. She was the guiding light for her family, providing wisdom, love, laughter, and unwavering support, her family said.

In addition, she had a generous spirit, which brought so much happiness and comfort to so many people. She took great joy in shopping and would find the perfect gift and somehow always spotted the latest trends, even before they were trends. This was particularly evident during the Christmas season, when she would shop for the Adopt-A-Family program, ensuring that less fortunate families could experience the magic and warmth of the holiday season.

Her legacy will live on in the hearts of her family, friends, and the many students whose lives she touched.

A memorial service will be held to celebrate her life on Sunday, August 25, from 2–4 p.m., with a service at 3 p.m., at the Werner-Rothwell Funeral Home in Westhampton Beach.

You May Also Like:

Tracking Reality

Thank you for “Water Hogs” [“The Water Hogs of the Hamptons, 2025,” Residence, 27east.com, August 28], a deeply necessary, smart service to us all, tracking the reality — what the press can do. I teach a course in the spring, “Language as Action: Reading & Writing Water,” and I will use “Water Hogs.” Kathy Engel Sagaponack 15 Sep 2025 by Staff Writer

Rare Treasure

I am urging the Southampton Town Board to keep this land as is, regardless of classification [“Fate of Southampton Town-Owned Poxabogue Field, Within Sagaponack Village, Is Debated at Town Board Meeting,” 27east.com, September 10]. I understand that it is in consideration to be returned to an agricultural use, but it has become an increasingly rare treasure here on the East End: an “old field” environment that now serves as habitat for wildlife, as well as having become a natural water quality buffer to Poxabogue Pond. As development continues to insidiously encroach on our wild neighbors, we threaten that very unique ... by Staff Writer

Ecologically Important

I am a resident and voter in Sagaponack and Southampton Town. Poxabogue Field provides many important ecological services. It serves as: • A wildlife sanctuary, and if farmed, as projected, would be fenced and plowed, obliterating the wildlife that has come to live there. • A natural buffer protecting Poxabogue Pond, its wetlands, and our aquifer. • An important ecosystem for ground-nesting birds, like the American woodcock (photographed in the field last month by Jane Gill), salamanders and turtles, grasshoppers and beetles, butterflies and moths. • A shelter for foxes, rabbits, deer, field mice, raccoons, chipmunks and more. • An open, natural field vista. I believe ... by Staff Writer

Essential Programming

As many East End town residents know who tried to access their public, educational and government (PEG) channels recently, they were no longer available on channels 20 and 22. Instead you were directed to find your channels somewhere in the 1300s. Because of the hue and cry in Newsday and all the local East End print and online media, and by town and village officials and the PEG industry, Altice/Optimum later backtracked and promised to return the channels to their original slots “on or about September 16, 2025” [“Optimum Walks Back Public Access Shakeup With Plan To Restore LTV, Sea-TV ... by Staff Writer

Bought and Sold

I am writing in response to last week’s letter, “Pay To Play” [September 11]. At first, some of the names mentioned sounded familiar, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. Then it hit me. Leon Black — a billionaire campaign donor to Mayor Bill Manger, Robin Brown and their slate — was the same Leon Black that I had just read about in The New York Times, who allegedly sent Jeffrey Epstein a birthday card. The U.S. Senate Finance Committee stated that Black paid Epstein at least $158 million. The horrible accusations surrounding him go further, though many are ... by Staff Writer

Community News, September 18

YOUTH CORNER Read and Play The John Jermain Memorial Library, 201 Main Street in Sag ... by Staff Writer

School News, September 18, Southampton Town

As Hampton Bays educators prepared their classrooms for the first day of school, they also ... by Staff Writer

Bridgehampton Museum's Fall Fundraiser Is at The Bridge

The Bridgehampton Museum will host its fall fundraiser, Cocktails at the Bridge, on Saturday, October 4, from 5 to 7 p.m. at The Bridge golf club in Bridgehampton. This year’s event will honor two longtime museum supporters: past president Gerrit Vreeland and former board member John Millard. According to a press release, their vision, leadership, and perseverance were instrumental in the acquisition and restoration of the Nathaniel Rogers House, the historic landmark that now anchors the east end of Main Street in Bridgehampton. Along with the rest of the board at the time, Vreeland and Millard raised much of the ... by Staff Writer

Sponsorships Available for Golf Outing at Sebonack

The Suffolk Community College Foundation will host its 41st Annual Golf Classic on Monday, October 20, at Sebonack Golf Club in Southampton. While the event is sold out, a limited number of sponsorship opportunities are still available. Proceeds from the Golf Classic will benefit student scholarships and academic programs at Suffolk County Community College. This year’s honoree is Ryan T. Kesner, principal of Ryan T. Kesner Architect PC, a leading architectural firm based in Southampton. A proud alumnus of Suffolk County Community College, Kesner has played a pivotal role in shaping Long Island’s architectural landscape, with more than one million ... by Staff Writer

Working Diligently

On Thursday, I attended the Southampton Village Board meeting on traffic and realized I had previously misspoken. I said the trustees had taken only “baby steps” in addressing this issue. I was wrong. The truth is, they have been working diligently for months, but their efforts are constrained by town, state and federal laws, as well as by the legitimate concerns of neighbors who are directly affected by traffic changes. The mayor and trustees deserve our appreciation for their tireless efforts. One theme was clear at the meeting: No neighbor should shoulder more of the burden than another. Whatever action ... by Staff Writer