Phillip Sanders

In Hebrew there is a phrase “He-nay-nee,” which literally means “Here I am” and is mostly used when God personally calls on someone to do something difficult and important. There's a special prayer on Yom Kippur called "Hineni" which starts, "Here I am in deep humility . . . "

He-nay-nee, delivering the eulogy of Philip Reisman Sanders

Phil Sanders was “Simply the BEST, Better than All the Rest” and he thought everything around him was literally the BEST. His favorite movies, dinner, time spent with his favorite people, it was always the BEST.  His positivity and love for everyone was infinite. The comments he’s left all over Facebook upon countless peoples feeds were words of encouragement, support, and positivity. He was always uplifting others, offering words of encouragement, and just letting others know “I see you and you are great”. He believed in all of us and loved guiding and mentoring others towards self-actualization; toward being the best versions of themselves. You are all the BEST to him. His love and support made us all better.

Phil Sanders had such big ideas, a big heart, and the greatest big, bear hugs. He was charismatic and loud and hilarious. A large child at times, he could still find the joy and pleasure in the small things.

He-nay-nee, in awe of the road he walked

He was truly an interesting man and interesting men are not born, they are made. Like any great mentor, he learned his wisdom through experience and hardship and struggle. He did not have the casual ease of someone who naturally succeeded at whatever they tried but the confidence of someone who has tried, failed, and overcome. He worked so many different jobs throughout his life we had trouble listing them all. He was a bar tender, worked security at a casino, a traveling jewelry salesman, a parks and recreation director (kind of like bay watch), a policeman, a teacher, a community organizer, a zoo volunteer, he recorded a music album, he trained wild horses, was a camp director, and inspired hundreds of inquisitive minds.

He-nay-nee, to reflect on his wisdom

My father taught us about resiliency, how to be flexible, and how to overcome and change and grow. He taught us how to brainstorm, to see problems from dozens of angles, and to think outside the box. He taught us about how to survive a school bully through humor. And how to bounce back when friends became enemies. But he also taught us about unconditional love, forgiveness, and how to be there for others no matter what. He encouraged us to forgive and forget and constantly demonstrated his incredibly open heart. Sometimes exerting so much effort to help a random stranger that I was convinced it must have been an old friend. He was especially skilled at offering wisdom and giving you the space to try, fail, and grow. He would happily follow, but could lead in an instant. He was a mentor to hundreds (possibly thousands) and my best friend.

He-nay-nee, to acknowledge his struggles

If Ted Lasso has taught us anything it’s that behind so much positivity can lie great personal struggle. A horseback riding accident left him with one functional knee and he lived with pain on a daily basis. Physical pain aside, he was also a complex character of great highs and lows, who loved passionately and felt deeply, wearing his heart on his sleeve. He battled his own demons for decades – some carried since childhood – leading to strained relationships and gaps in communication. While that weighed heavily on him it also made him exceptionally compassionate toward the pain of others. With the support of loved ones, he kept moving forward and battled his demons one step at a time. He fought the darkness and found the light over and over again throughout his lifetime.

He-nay-nee, to acknowledge his legacy

Phil touched more lives than can be counted. He spent 20 years guiding the Jewish youth of BBYO. He led trips to Poland to remember the Holocaust. He led trips to Israel to help many find a spiritual home. He spent years running a leadership camp to empower tomorrow’s, well, today’s leaders.

L’dor vador, from generation to generation. We break unhealthy patterns from generations past and cast off the old ways of seeing and doing things. We vow to use the tools he taught us to heal and thrive in our own lives moving forward. We will hear his voice in our head echoing words of encouragement and endless support.

We see his smile reflected in our eyes and in those of his grandchildren. We acknowledge where we have been and where we will be going. We will build new traditions and invite him always to be present and sit at the table of life with us.

“Even when I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, for you are with me; With rod and staff You comfort me. You have set a table before me…” and we have all decided in your honor to leave a seat out for you.

He-nay-nee is very complete and emotionally charged, and implies, "Here I am: ready, willing and able." We think of this phrase as being present for God and showing up to what matters in life. But this phrase is also who Phil was. A man who made mistakes, but who also showed up and kept trying over and over again to make things right again. Here he is God, He-nay-nee, please take great care of him.

His family also greatly appreciates all who “showed up” for him today both in person and virtually, to say good-bye to the man, the myth, the legend: Philip Reisman Sanders.

Phil left behind his wife Julie Sanders, his children Danielle and Matt Stock, Aaron and Kristin Sanders, Samantha Sanders, Kristin and Daniel Ginnity, and Katie Wisor and Kevin Bangali; his grandchildren Ryan and Jordan Stock and John and Julia Ginnity; his sister Natalie Blum; and his in-laws Ann and Noel Widdifield.