Phillip J. Best

Beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Phil Best passed away on Saturday, December 17, 2022, at his home in Crozet, Virginia. He was born, Phillip John Best on July 10,1940 in Brooklyn, NY, the son of the late John Phillip Best and Edith Brammer.

Phil is survived by his wife of 43 years, Billie Spruill Best, his six children, Dan Best, Kris Jackson (Bill Lang), Tim Best, Ian Best, Mark Best (Courtney Best), and Will Best (Mandy Best) as well as six grandchildren, Jaime Jackson (Seth Demant), Natalie Jackson, Cecilia Best, Isabel Best, Elliot Best, and Adriana Best. He is also survived by three great-grandchildren, Finnegan, Kalia, and Kimber Chartier.

Phil spent his childhood in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. He attended Brooklyn Technical High School, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and Princeton University where he received his PhD, and did postdoctoral work at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He moved to Charlottesville, Virginia in 1968 to teach in the psychology department at UVA as a neuroscientist, doing collaborative work with professors in biology, anatomy, psychiatry, as well as other departments in the medical school. His greatest joy was holding the position of Director of the Neuroscience Program which he created with John Jane at UVA. His research centered on the Hippocampus with emphasis on Spatial orientation and the effects of alcohol on the brain. While at UVA he met his wife, Billie, a public-school music teacher in the Albemarle County School System. They were married at Westminster Presbyterian Church on December 29, 1979.

In the summer of 1988, the family moved to Slidell, LA where Phil accepted the position of Chair in the Psychology Department at the University of New Orleans. In 1990, the Bests made their final move to Oxford, OH where Phil served as chair of Psychology at Miami University. During those years Phil enjoyed doing service work for Habitat for Humanity, building walking and biking trails around the town, and working to renovate a choice pantry as well as rooms at Oxford Presbyterian Church; always enjoying a brisk game of racquetball or sailing at Hueston Woods park.

In 2009 Phil and Billie decided to return to Charlottesville in retirement where they re-connected with friends from the past as well as meeting new ones. Phil’s passion was working with the Crozet Trails Crew, clearing paths, building bridges across creeks, and constructing benches along the way. The family would like to thank the many people who helped care for Phil in his final months of life, with special thanks to Briyana, Towanda, Debbie, Tina, Brittany, and Melanie. We would also like to thank Hospice of the Piedmont for their exceptional care and compassion.

A celebration of Phil’s life will take place at Westminster Presbyterian Church on Thursday, December 29, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to The Salvation Army, Westminster Presbyterian Church, or Hospice of the Piedmont.