Don Phillips

Don Phillips, 77, of Castle Rock, CO, died May 10, 2026. Born September 20, 1948, in Jamestown, New York, Don grew up in Oxford, Ohio, before moving to Sunland, California around the age of seven. He graduated from Verdugo Hills High School in 1966—fittingly, where the mascot is the Don’s.

Don built a life defined by steady work, deep loyalty, and a love that showed up in everyday ways. He worked as a telephone technician for Pacific Bell, then AT&T, and later returned to Pacific Bell, retiring in 1996. Never one to stop learning or contributing, he also worked for a friend who contracted for NBC Studios on many shows, including *The Tonight Show*. Later, he found what he considered his dream job at Cal Tech, working as a system technician—bringing the same reliability and pride to each role that those who knew him came to count on.

Don’s love story began simply and unmistakably: he lived in the same apartment building as Holly Toepfer, and they met there—“and that is all it took” for the beginning of a lifelong partnership. Don and Holly were married May 3, 1969, and together raised three children. Don was an amazing dad—devoted, present, and family-oriented—coaching his sons’ baseball teams and sharing a home life anchored in care, commitment, and the quiet strength of someone who always put his family first. Don and Holly enjoyed baseball and football and loved to travel together, making memories that will remain a lasting comfort.

Don’s interests reflected both his patience and his joy. He liked putting model cars together and loved music—The Beach Boys, The Beatles, and the sounds of the late ’50s through the mid ’60s. A loyal sports fan, he cheered for the Los Angeles Dodgers formerly the Brooklyn Dodgers, and later in life he was a Patriots fan. Don considered himself an amateur photographer, but to his family he was something more: the proud owner of a “nice camera” and the beloved family paparazzi, capturing every holiday, trip, birth, and special moment with a devotion that turned ordinary days into keepsakes.

In his community, Don’s practical kindness made a difference. He started Tujunga Little League T-Ball to make sure his youngest son could play at the same time as his older brother, and for T-Ball he even wrote the rule book—an example of how he noticed what was needed and simply got to work making it happen.

Those closest to Don will remember his humor as a steady companion to his steadfastness—he had a “Dad Joke” for every situation. He carried responsibility with quiet dignity, never allowing life’s experiences to bring him down or spill over onto the people he loved. He worked two jobs to take care of his family and home, doing everything he could to ensure they were supported and wanted for nothing. In that constancy, Don was deeply beloved.

Don is survived by his wife, Holly Phillips; his children, Don Phillips III, Chad Phillips and his wife Melissa, and Tina Mounce; his grandchildren, Dylan Phillips, Nathan Mounce, Joshua Mounce, and Alyssa Mounce; his sister, Gilda Kiernan; his brother, Randy Phillips and his wife Tami; and his cousin/brother, Roger Swart. Don was preceded in death by his mother, Betty Jo Edwards Phillips, and his father, Donald Scott Phillips.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Foundation: https://pancan.org/facing-pancreatic-cancer/patient-services/contact-us/.