I only met Phillip this year, and even after only having known him for a couple of months, Phillip's impact on me has been immeasurable. When I first met Phillip and our pledge class, I was in an environment where I felt slightly out of my element and I mainly kept to myself, but even with me being a complete stranger to him at the time he still came up to me and gave the most hearty greeting and introduction that it was impossible to not instantly feel at home and know that I had just found a good friend.

I'm a fairly closed off and reserved individual, and it is usually really tough for me to open up to people about the struggles of my past. However, when it came to Phillip, his warm and caring nature allowed me to instantly relax and feel so secure that I was able to easily open up to him. Being able to confide in him was so comforting and made me feel like he helped to lift the weight of the world off my shoulders, and I don't think there are many people out there besides Phillip with a superpower like that. Phillip also opened up to me and it helped me feel as though I was not alone and he knew how I felt, and I can only hope that the words that I shared with him helped him even a fraction as much as his helped me.

Over the few short weeks I knew Phillip, I never had a single bad interaction with him. Every single time I would see him, Phillip would look at me with the biggest smile on his face and he would always go out of his way to stop what he was doing and greet me. With me being in ChemE and him being in CS, he understood how tough academics were for both of us and he would always ask me how my day went and how my work was going. We would then proceed to discuss our work, bust each others chops and make some jokes about each others majors, and he would invite me to join the games he was playing with others. It was interactions like these that I value deeply as he always displayed how genuine and personal his bond with you was.

One of my favorite memories of Phillip came during a paintball outing that our friend group had gone on together a little while back. It was the fourth game of the day and me, Phillip, and the rest of the team were walking back out to the woods together discussing our game plan after we were easily beaten by our opponents in the round prior. Someone suggested that we send a small group into the more secluded back area of the woods to ensure that the main group didn't get flanked from the rear again by our opponents. Of course, Phillip was the first to volunteer and I wanted to take the rear too so I offered to join him. After the game began, he and I separated from the group and proceeded to go on our hunt, eventually we spotted someone through the brush and we instantly took cover behind a large log. Unfortunately, one of the opponents had ran around to the other side of us and we were pinned down. After an intense firefight, both our opponents eventually left and Phillip poked me and asked "Yo dude did I get hit?" I then proceeded to turn around and see that he had such a big paint splatter on his head that I thought he was joking. I then responded "Uhhhh... Yeah man you got hit." He then complained about how much that sucked and how he thought he got out unscathed. He then told me good luck and said the he knew I had it in the bag, and even through a mask I just knew from the look on his eyes that he was smiling from ear to ear. He then left me to finish the game and I proceeded to have my best performance of the day, and the first person to congratulate me after the game was Phillip after he heard how good I did after he left. It's moments like these that highlight how funny and friendly Phillip was and how much of a pleasure he was to be around.

Phillip was an amazing person. He was a light in all of our lives and I am crushed that such an incredible individual blessed us all with his presence and left us so soon. He carried such a unique charisma with him that he had instantly became friends with everyone in our class, and acted somewhat as a glue that bound us together. You could tell that he wanted nothing but the best for us and was excited to grow and succeed with all of us. I think I speak for everyone in our class that losing Phillip has taken a piece of all of us with him and it will forever be difficult for the class to ever feel truly whole again.  For us, losing Phillip does not feel like losing a friend, to us Phillip was family. As a member of our family, it feels like we truly lost a brother, someone we felt we had known for our whole lives and would know forever into the future.

From the bottom of our hearts, we love you Phillip. You will always be missed and forever remembered.

Rest in peace.

I didn't know Phillip very well, but we hung out a couple of times and spent a few hours together walking through Cornell's campus. I am shocked and saddened by the news that he is gone. I remember him being a wonderful presence. He was sweet and genuine, and I wish I could've gotten the chance to learn more about him. Rest in peace Phillip, you will hold a place in my heart.

Phillip, I don't think this tribute could possibly do justice to everything I have to say. We met in 2015, when you were a high school freshman, and quickly grew close. We put the horrors of high school chemistry behind us and as an older friend, I tried my best to act like a mentor. I wanted to see you succeed through high school classes, through college apps, through Cornell. I was elated to discover that you would accept Cornell's guaranteed transfer option and come here in your sophomore year. I was disheartened to realize that it was 2020, that we were in a pandemic, that being stuck in a single dorm room in Carl Becker House was absolutely not how I'd envision my first college semester. From talking to you about chemistry and trigonometry, to which AP classes to take...to introductory CS classes at Cornell, and the horrors of CS 2800 and 3110 -- it was so familiar and so surreal that I could have possibly spent another three years with you. And you wanted so badly to return the favor, to get me to "break out of my shell", to have a good time in college (well, spent outside of my own room). We promised so many better memories for the next academic year. It is an understatement to say that I am heartbroken now. The few dinners we've had together -- when I've swung by West/Becker for dinner those sparse times during Fall 2020, or when we grabbed Pronto's in Collegetown together this semester (and you mocked me for gettting a margherita, the simplest of choices) -- they were so few. There should have been so many more. I wish I had done better for you here. Words cannot describe how deeply I miss you. Rest in peace, Phillip.

I did not know Phillip all too well...I believe we may have briefly chatted or joked around once or twice in high school during student government functions or in passing. But learning about his passing today just was a raw sucker punch to the gut for me and it still acutely feels that way - as I am sure it does for others at Queens High School for the Sciences and Cornell - simply because he was a part of our greater family. And like a family, we grieve for one of our own.

I have heard much about him from a mutual friend and everything that I have heard tells me how much of a lighthearted, empathetic, and understanding friend he was to those he loved and cared for. My regret is that I was not able to get to know him better before he was taken so abruptly from us.

His family, his friends, QHSS, Cornell, and the world have lost a truly remarkable soul. I grieve as a friend of a friend, a QHSS alumni, and a Cornell peer. Rest in peace Phillip, you and your loved ones will constantly be in my thoughts and in the community's thoughts over the coming days, weeks, and months. We are grieving for you but also intend to share, celebrate, and remember your uplifting impact on the lives you have touched.

I remember first meeting Phillip during middle school way back in the day when we were mere sixth-graders, unprepared for the harsh realities of middle school life. We didn’t talk much then — only here and there. Then, Phillip transferred to another school. And, at that point, I didn’t know, think, or expect that I’d see him again.

But, the world being as small as it is, our paths would cross once again at QHSS. And, looking back, I’m so grateful to be able to say that we grew closer as friends during our senior year of high school. From our Econ/Gov class to our AP Lit class, I always looked forward to bothering Preston together with Bibi or listening to Flaherty’s fascinating stories — stories only Flaherty could really tell or have experienced. I remember taking the E train with Phillip almost every single day after school. We would talk about anything and everything — from our days to what we’re looking forward to after we escaped high school. We would stress over and help one another with our QuestBridge applications.

I remember going to watch “Avengers: Endgame” on opening day with him and several other friends — in fact, I remember the both of us trying to buy tickets during one of our AP Lit classes, and Phillip offered to help no matter what so long as we got those tickets. I remember going to prom and sharing a limo with all of our friends — and, no matter how hot and stuffy it might’ve been, I wouldn’t have traded it for anything at all.

Most importantly, Phillip was someone who always managed to brighten — not only my day — but everyone’s day through his sharp intellect, cleverness, humor, and wit, yes, but also his deep compassion and empathy for others. Phillip was always willing to lend a helping hand or an ear to listen and simply be there for others.

Phillip, you are and will always be dearly loved and missed. I only wish we had more time. Rest In Peace, Phillip.

Phillip was truly one of the smartest and generous individuals that I had the privilege to know. We were on the debate team together for three years and he was a force to be reckoned with on the tournament floor. His eloquence, intelligence, and confidence shone brightly in those moments. To the underclassmen on the team, he was a great mentor. He was also incredibly funny, just a joy to be around. I will remember fondly Tuesday afternoons scrambling to prepare for debate tournaments while goofing around with the team. There was always a quick-witted sarcastic comment at the tip of his tongue. His eyes were so expressive, I'm reminded of him rolling his eyes whenever a cringeworthy moment happened in class. He had such a compassionate spirit, I remember him always having snacks ready to share and helping me with physics homework. I knew I could strike up a conversation with him anytime and it would never be dull. Phillip is a soul gone too soon whose memory I shall cherish. I will keep him and his loved ones in my prayers. Rest in peace Phillip

I first met Phillip when I transferred to QHSS in sophomore year. We only talked a bit during that year, maybe played a few games together but that was it. Our friendship started when we began to share classes together, we would talk and play games together. It was so easy to hold any conversation with him, he was always a wonderful listener and would always give me advice when I needed it. I will always remember the time we spent together, and I am devastated by the news of his passing. Rest in peace Phillip.

Phillip, I don't know what else to say except I miss you already. On the first day of high school, we met when I knew almost no one and had no idea how the next four years would be. Just one day was enough for us to become friends and the next couple of weeks were spent just talking and learning more and more about each other. You were always one to look on the bright side of any situation and you always made sure that all of your friends were not just ok but the best they could be. We were supposed to grow up and travel and try all these new things. I don't know what else I can except I hope you were happy until the end. I miss you man.