Eileen P. Holcombe

Eileen P. Holcombe, 80, of Naples, FL passed away peacefully at home April 23, 2023, with her loving husband Scott at her side. She had a very short, hard battle with cancer that she handled with great dignity. Born in Boston, MA to the late Myer and Rachel Rottenberg, Eileen was raised in Newton, MA. She graduated from Newton High School and Syracuse University.

Starting out with her own jewelry store and graduating to nationally-known Carolee Jewelry (Greenwich) and Judith Jack Jewelry (Manhattan), she used her creative talents as a manager of jewelry design and merchandising for over 30 years. She continued to tap her creative skills by obtaining a Floral Design Certification from The New York Botanical Garden, which Eileen used over the last 15 years with many well-known floral shops in Manhattan and elsewhere.

Whether it was supervising jewelry designers, doing flower arrangements, or merchandising a thrift store, Eileen had many, many talents and exquisite taste. Whenever any family or friends got together, albeit for spirited competition games at work, group dinners, or a lively party, Eileen was long regarded notoriously by her friends as “The Camp Director” extraordinaire. Her creative energy was boundless and contagious. She also loved cooking, Martha’s Vineyard and overseas travel adventures, particularly to The South of France.

In addition to Scott, her husband of 32 years, Eileen is survived by her former spouse Richard Phillips of Chestnut Hill, MA; her daughter Emily Phillips and her husband Mike Poirer of Edgartown, MA (his daughter and her husband, Ashley and Marshal Pratt); her son John Phillips and his wife Lisa of Wellesley, MA and grandchildren Avery and Koll; her brother David Rottenberg of Farmington, MA; and Scott’s four children, son Todd Holcombe and his wife Suzanne and grandchildren Jack and Kate, daughter Amy Cass and granddaughter Lily Cass, daughter Kimberly Holcombe and son Kevin Holcombe.

A graveside service will be held for the immediate family at Sharon Memorial Cemetery, MA, via Levine Chapels, Brookline, MA (www.levinechapels.com). Donations can be made in Eileen’s name to her wonderful hospice, Avow Foundation, Inc., Naples, FL (avowcares.org).