Services Held for USD Innovator Richard Phillips

Memorial services were held this week for Richard Porter Phillips, founder and coordinator of the environmental studies program at the University of San Diego and former executive director of the San Diego Natural History Museum. He was 63.

The service for Phillips, who died of cancer last Friday, was held Tuesday at the All Hallows Catholic Church in La Jolla, and was led by his brother, Father Paschel Phillips, according to his daughter, Terrie Teegarden.

Richard Phillips also coordinated the university’s inter-disciplinary program of environmental and marine studies. Among his academic achievements, he was a visiting Fulbright professor during the 1984-85 academic year at the Universiti Pertanian in Malaysia.

He was a researcher there who helped develop a program in physical oceanography, Teegarden said.

He taught at the University of San Diego for 20 years. He also was a member of the department of geological sciences at San Diego State University at various times in the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s.

Phillips, a native of Spokane, Wash., was executive director of the San Diego Natural History Museum from 1966 to 1969.

He was also a trustee of the Anza Borrego Foundation. His work with the organization involved trying to preserve and expand that park, and he often took students on field trips there.

Phillips is survived by his wife Louise Bowen Phillips of San Diego; a son, Richard Jr. of Fresno; five daughters, including Teegarden of San Diego, Ann Phillips of Pasadena, Cruz and Lauris Phillips of Santa Ynez, and Katie Phillips of Berkeley; two stepdaughters, Rachel Nason of San Diego and Eleanor Nason of Los Angeles; a sister, Ann Roney of Hawaii; his brother, Father Phillips of Oregon, and eight grandchildren.

Contributions in his memory can be made to the Anza Borrego Foundation or to the environmental studies program through the University of San Diego.