Dear Members of the Campus Community,

I am saddened to share with you that President Emeritus Phil Phibbs passed away today. Our thoughts are with his family as they mourn his passing and celebrate his long and extraordinary life.

There is simply no way to adequately express how influential Dr. Phibbs was in shaping the university we know and love today. During his service as Puget Sound’s eleventh president from 1973-1992, he was the driving force behind the university’s development as a selective liberal arts college focused on academic excellence. His accomplishments as our third longest-serving president include the establishment of a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa; creation of our independently governed board of trustees; the building of Thompson Hall, and raising $47.6 million for the Centennial Campaign in 1988; and the growth of the endowment from $6 million to $56 million at the time of his retirement. He was also immensely influential in the founding of Tacoma’s Museum of Glass, and held board leadership roles in many organizations including the Seattle Opera, the Museum of Glass, the Association of American Colleges, the American Political Science Association, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, and the National Association of Schools and Colleges of the United Methodist Church. And of course, he did all this with his wife Gwen by his side, every bit as active in and committed to the success of Puget Sound as her husband (and the only presidential spouse to be awarded an honorary degree).

The Phibbs remained in Tacoma following retirement, staying in touch with colleagues, volunteering in the community, engaging in a wide variety of interests, and frequently attending campus events. We are privileged to count their granddaughter among our alumni and their grandson as a current student. I was honored that Dr. Phibbs was able to participate in my inauguration, along with Presidents Emeriti Susan Resneck Pierce and Ron Thomas. Truly, we stand on the shoulders of giants.

We hope to hold a memorial service on campus, and will keep you informed of arrangements as they become known.

With a heavy heart,

Isiaah
Isiaah Crawford, Ph.D. | President