Alfred Bernhard Philippe, 89, of 11 Deborah Avenue, Sanford, Maine, passed away peacefully with family at his side on Saturday, May 25, 2013, at The Pavilions Residential Care.
He was born in Thal, St. Gallen, Switzerland, on December 18, 1923, to Bernhard
and Pauline Mueller Philippe. He emigrated from Switzerland with his mother, father, and sister at an early age.
He was educated in the St. Joseph's school system in Pittsfield. During his high
school years, he enjoyed playing trumpet with his friends who had a band in Pittsfield
for a short time.
He joined the Navy in April 1943, serving aboard the destroyer escort DD 606
USS Coghlan. He earned eight battle starts and two assists participating in the major
campaigns of the South Pacific. During brutal action in the landing at Ormoc Bay in
The Philippines, he was seriously wounded and later awarded the Purple Heart.
After his discharge from the Navy, he married his high school sweetheart, Eleanor
Schultz, on November 12, 1945. They were married for 63 years. Eleanor died in November 2008.
He began an apprenticeship to become a typewriter repair technician. After
working as a repair technician for several years in area shops, he began working at
General Electric in Pittsfield where he was responsible for hundreds of typewriter
repairs, maintenance, and replacement. During his General Electric service, he also
worked as an inspector in the Power Transformer Department and finally in the Naval
Ordnance group where he held the highest security clearance allowed by civilians for
decades. He retired in 1982 with over 32 years of service.
Al was one of the New York Yankees best fans. In the days when radio was the
only way to listen to the game, he was able to find a distant radio station and listen to
the entire game. He was also the best Yankees trivia person we knew with details and
facts going as far back as when he was a young boy. Later in life, he enjoyed gardening with his wife and spending time with his beloved dogs, Fritz, Fritz II, and Kayla. Al's quick wit and sense of humor will be missed by all who knew him.
He moved to Sanford, Maine, to be with his sons in 1984, and began servicing typewriters and office equipment in southern Maine. He worked full time until he incurred a severe injury at age 86.
He leaves behind his four children, David Philippe and wife, Linda, of The Villages, Fla., Diane Gingras and husband, Thomas, of Pittsfield, James Philippe and
wife, Leslie, and Robert Philippe, of Sanford, Maine. He also leaves six grandchildren,
Alicia Simino, Kim Anhaueser, Sean, Jamie, Brian, and Andrew Philippe; and five great
grandchildren, Zachary and Jacob Simino, Lauren and Derek Anhaueser, and Kinsley
Philippe. He is survived by his sister, Pauline Harris, of Pittsfield.
He was predeceased by his wife, Eleanor, and his brother, Robert Philippe.

FUNERAL NOTICE:
Funeral services for Alfred B. Philippe will be held Thursday, June 6, at 9:30 a.m., from DERY FUNERAL HOME with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m., at St. Charles Church celebrated by Rev. Michael C. Lillpopp, Parochial Vicar. Burial will follow in St. Joseph's Cemetery. Calling hours will be Thursday morning from 8:30 to
9:30 at the Funeral Home. The omission of flowers is requested.

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