Phillip Andrew Sorrentino

Phillip Andrew Sorrentino, passed away on November 13, 2025, at the age of 78, in Glen Allen, VA. He was born on December 27, 1946, to Andrew and Lina Covucci Sorrentino, of Manhasset, NY, where he grew up.

Phil entered the U. S. Army and served in the Viet Nam War where he earned a Bronze Star as an infantryman. He was very proud of his service and would often visit the Viet Nam War Memorial to honor his comrades who never returned home. Phil was a member of the 25th Infantry Division Association and The Wolfhound Pack of the 27th Infantry Regiment Historical Society, where he held the position of Historian. He was also a lifetime member of The Veterans of Foreign War.

Phil attended Long Island University, C. W. Post Campus, Brookville, NY, where he earned his bachelor's degree in history, in 1974; and began teaching social studies. In 1975 he moved to Richmond, VA, where he teaching in Hanover, County, and then in Richmond City. In 1979, he graduated from Adelphi University in Garden City, NY, with a master’s degree in education; and in 1996, he graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a second master's degree in public and international affairs.

Phil was an outstanding teacher and found his passion while at the Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School for Government and International Studies, a regional magnet high school in Richmond. At Maggie L. Walker, he was the faculty advisor for the We the People: The Citizen & The Constitution Program. Phil coached the Maggie L. Walker team to the National Finals in Washington, D. C. multiple times. The team won the National Title in 2003, 2011 and 2017. He felt it was important that his students understood history and the Constitution; as well as their civic responsibility to be informed citizens and to actively participate in the democratic process. He even carried a copy of the Constitution in his pocket. Phil was deeply admired, respected, and appreciated by his students, their families, and his colleagues. Phil retired in 2012 after 37 years of teaching. As one former student wrote, “he had an immeasurable impact across generations of students.”

Phil married Annette Sheppard on June 7, 1997. The Sorrentino's did many things together: they vacationed, walked the neighborhood, went hiking, gardened, and often socialized with friends. They were active members of the Italian Giuseppe Verde Lodge in Richmond.

Phil was predeceased by his beloved wife, Annette Marie Sorrentino, and his parents, Andrew and Lina Sorrentino. He is survived by his sister, Louise F. Sarola; his niece, Jennifer R. Jaquith; his nephew, James R. Wells III; his great-nephews, Jason and Matthew Jaquith and Alexander Wells; and his stepchildren, Juliette and Jack Sheppard. He also leaves behind numerous friends who will miss him greatly.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at 1:00 p.m., at Nelsen Funeral Home, Ashland, VA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Phil’s memory to any of the following: The 27th Infantry Regiment Historical Society, 808 Riverbend Rd., Clinton, TN 37716; or The P. A. Sorrentino Scholarship, the Community Foundation, 3409 Moore St., Richmond, VA 23230; or the Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School Foundation, 1000 N. Lombardy St., Richmond, VA 23220.