Leonard Milton Phillips Jr.

Leonard Milton Phillips, Jr. was born May 1, 1935 in North Little Rock, Arkansas to Leonard Milton and Farrell C. (Harrod) Phillips. He graduated from high school in North Little Rock and received a Bachelor of Music degree from Hendrix College in 1957. In 1959 he received a Master of Music Education degree from the Indiana University School of Music. After two years in the United States Army at the Army War College he served as a faculty member at the University of Central Arkansas for fourteen years.

In 1979 he received a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Musicology from Indiana University and was employed by the Indiana University Foundation, where he worked with arts organizations at IU. He was instrumental in arranging a week-long showcase of School of Music organizations in New York City in 1981, including a performance at the Metropolitan Opera, and in arranging a musical exchange with the Moscow Conservatory in 1990. He later became director of development and then director of special programs for the School of Music, retiring in 1997.

Leonard died on October 6, 2015 in Bloomington, Indiana. He was preceded in death by his parents, by his sister Bettie Sue Phillips, and by his brother-in-law Jim Holsted. He is survived by his wife Mary Wennerstrom Phillips of Bloomington and two sisters: Joy Brightop (and husband Rick) of Benton, Arkansas and Joyce Holsted of Mountain Home, Arkansas, as well as by a niece Susan Stockton, a nephew Chris Holsted, and several grandnieces and grandnephews.

We are grateful to the many people who contributed care to Leonard during the last several years, especially Pete Medina.

A memorial service will be announced at a later time. Memorial contributions may be made to the Indiana University Foundation to the Wennerstrom-Phillips Endowment Fund, Jacobs School of Music, C/O IU Foundation, PO Box 6460, Indianapolis, IN 46206-6460, for support of the Jacobs School of Music Library, or to any charity. Day & Deremiah-Frye Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.