It is with the greatest sadness that I send you this news. Some of you already know. Bruce Phillips has passed. It is hard for me to write this as he was a very special member of the Port Angeles cycling community. He lead us to victory in Cascade Bicycle Club’s Summer Bike League for 2009. I took great pride in having his support for our efforts with regards to cycling in our fair city. I will deeply miss him.
He inspired me since the day I first saw him on the Olympic Discovery Trail. I was riding with my wife, Lisa and we were at the base of the Morse Creek climb when I threw a chain on my Cannondale trying to downshift a little too vigorously. We had just passed him on the trestle. He was riding his single speed. As I called out to my wife that my chain had come off, Bruce passed us and commented, “Gears SUCK!” That, I came to find out, was a very Bruce thing to say.
Later that year, we were riding the now defunct Olympic Cycling Classic and he passed us again, on his single speed . . . again, on the climb up Deer Park Rd. I tried to catch him but even with all the gearing combinations my 9-speed could muster, he was too strong. That’s how I want to remember him, “too strong”. And that’s why his passing is so difficult for me. Eventually we met over beers and discussed each other’s biking exploits. His cycling resume was full and accomplished. I told him about what I was trying to do for cycling in Port Angeles. He was enthusiastic about my advocacy.
Our lives touched ever so briefly, but he clearly had an impact on mine. I respected his uplifting demeanor and ability to cut to the chase and keep things simple and in perspective. Our community has suffered a huge loss in the passing of Bruce “Bapster/BAPman” Phillips. I wish I’d’ve known him sooner, longer, better. Nonetheless, I feel fortunate for having met him at all. I’m sure right now he’d tell me, “Forget all that sh*t about me and JUST RIDE!”
Thank you Bruce . . . for keeping it real.
Randall
FYI here's the obit:
Tuesday, September 14, 2010 11:32 AM, PDT
Bruce Alan Phillips
Surrounded by his family, friends and loved ones, Bruce passed peacefully away Friday September 10, 2010, after a courageous battle with cancer at his home in Port Angeles, Wa.
Bruce was born on June 30th, 1952 to William and Barbara Phillips in Roseburg, Or., and raised in Coos Bay/North Bend where he graduated from Marshfield High School in 1970. Shortly after high school, he went to work alongside his father at Menasha Paper Co. where he eventually became a Journeyman Millwright. After the closure of the Menasha/Weyerhaeuser Paper Mill in 2003, Bruce moved to Port Angeles, where he was employed at Nippon Paper as a Journeyman Oiler/Millwright.
All his life Bruce was an avid gardener and outdoorsman, enjoying hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, skiing, bicycling and running. He completed numerous races, including the Boston Marathon. After several years of mountain bike racing, Bruce turned to road cycling, completing over 10 Cycle Oregon’s, 8 STP’s, 4 RAGBRAI’s and many century rides. He was very active in the Boys and Girls Club of Southern Oregon, where he taught bicycle safety and was instrumental in the cycling community in Port Angeles.
Bruce will be dearly missed, not only by his immediate family, but by his family of friends in the Port Angeles, Kirkland, Wa. and Coos Bay, Or. areas. Those friends that ran, walked, hiked, biked or worked with Bruce, were very important to him and dear to his heart. It was with them that he shared his greatest accomplishments, it was with them that he drew his strength and happiness and it was to them that he entrusted his life.
Bruce was preceded in death by his father William “Bill” Phillips.
He is survived by his mother Barbara Phillips and Bud Holmes of Mesa, Az., brother Steven Phillips of Longview Wa., sister K’Lynne Allsop of White City, Or., sister Mary Tabler of Portland Or., uncle Richard Bailey of Astoria, Or., nieces Ashley, Jordon and Kayla, and great nieces Tejah and Sydney.
A celebration of life will be hosted by friends Brian and Mo Mittelstaedt on Saturday October 2nd, 2010. For information and details, go to brianmo2002@gmail.com or call 360-452-2390.
Remembrances in Bruce’s honor may be made to Hospice of Clallam County and the Humane Society of Clallam County.
To view or sign Bruce’s guestbook at Drennan-Ford Funeral Home, please go to www.drennanford.com
In the words of the late great Bruce “Bapster” Phillips:
“It sucks to be you” BAP
