Joseph F. Phillips

Joe was born and raised in Elizabeth, New Jersey, the son of Catherine and Joseph Phillips Sr. He grew up alongside his siblings Dottie, Tom, and Rick — four kids in a family that stayed close their whole lives.

Joe enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1965 and served in Vietnam with the 3rd Marine Division, a unit awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for extraordinary heroism and outstanding performance of duty. "Semper Fidelis," Always Faithful, were not merely words to Joe. They were a way of life. He was discharged in 1972, returning home with the same quiet resolve with which he had left.

After returning home, Joe continued his life of service, dedicating many years to the New Jersey Department of Corrections, where he served until his retirement. Joe showed up the same way in every room he ever walked into, not just physically, but fully present. He took his work seriously because he understood it mattered.

If you knew Joe, you knew the wit. Dry, fast, and perfectly timed. He could catch you off guard and leave you laughing for the rest of the day. He was an uncle who could always be counted on: for an ear to listen, for a hard truth and sage advice, for belly laughs, for a ride anywhere, and for a little pocket money when you got there.

He loved music. As a teenager, he drove his siblings to the brink of madness practicing with his a cappella group in the hallway or the bathroom, when the acoustics called for it. He loved the Three Stooges and the Marx Brothers, read historical non-fiction, and never missed good British television or film. But if you really want to know Joe, picture this: a room full of people, leaning in, completely still, waiting to see where the story goes. That was him.

He liked his quiet; he had earned it. But more than anything, Joe loved his family, and he made sure they knew it.

Joe is survived by his brother, Richard Phillips, and his sister, Dorothy Phillips McCabe, both of Livingston, New Jersey, and a wide circle of nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Catherine and Joseph Phillips Sr., and his brother, Thomas Phillips.

A visitation will be held on June 7, 2026, from 3:00–5:00 PM at Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home, 145 E Mt Pleasant Ave, Livingston, NJ 07039.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (nmcrs.org) in Joe's name.

Joe Phillips was not a man who needed much fanfare. He served. He worked. He loved his family. He leaves behind something that can't be measured: a standard of character that everyone who knew him will carry for the rest of their lives.

He will be missed beyond words.

"Semper Fidelis."