Phil was born in Bonne Terre, Missouri to Henry Ward Gash and Bertha Louise Eydmann Gash. As part of a military family, Phil lived in many different places throughout his childhood, including Colorado, Alaska, Washington D.C., Arizona, and California. He was a curious and thoughtful child, and pursued many interests, with a particular zeal for chess and photography. He loved mathematics and started teaching himself calculus at age 12. He attended Calexico High School (go bulldogs!) in the Imperial Valley of California, excelling in math and science, playing the tuba in the marching band, and earning an appointment to the American Legion’s Boys State in 1958, the year of his graduation. He attended college at the University of California at Berkeley, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Physics in 1963, and was a proud member of his beloved California Marching Band, playing the sousaphone. After Cal, Phil wed Barbara Lutge (Cal 62’), in August 1964, and the newly married couple immediately moved to Storrs, Connecticut in order for Phil to continue his studies at the University of Connecticut, where he earned a PhD. in Physics in 1970.

After graduate school, Phil accepted a teaching position all the way across the country at Shasta College in Redding, California. There, Phil taught physics, material science, astronomy, computer programming, and even backpacking, for nearly 35 years. Teaching anyone, regardless of age, about science, was Phil’s true gift to us all. He embraced it at the junior college level and later at California State University Chico, where he taught for 25 years, many concurrently with Shasta College. His deep knowledge, skill at understanding how people learn complex subjects, and dedication to his craft, touched many of his students and fellow staff. He formed life-long relationships with many he crossed paths with during his career.

Phil was a person who lived life to the fullest. He was endlessly curious, always seemed to have a new hobby or topic for exploration, and was a life-long learner. Those that know him well will recall that some of his interests included backpacking, beer-making, fly fishing, photography, videography, music, opera, theater, mathematics, physics, geology, computer programming, human physiology, nutrition, contra dancing, volunteering, traveling, and cycling. He developed a deep and sustained passion for long distance cycling, which he pursued for nearly 35 years. He went on a countless number of tours of “the open beauty of the US.” This included an accomplishment which brought him a significant amount of pride: completing five full cross-country trips by bicycle.

Phil will be remembered for his kind, generous, and accepting nature. He loved spending time with his children, and in particular, with his grandchildren. The grandkids each got to enjoy trips to the donut shop, to Pac Bell Park to see the San Francisco Giants play, rides on trains, tours of whale watching, long walks in the woods, and science lessons with him. Each grandchild was either born with, or quickly developed, a shared life-long love of donuts, undoubtedly due to their grandad.

Phil is preceded in death by his mother Bertha Louise Edymann Gash, father Ward Gash, brother John Steven Gash, and uncle Charles Gash. He is survived by his sister Cynthia Ramthun, of Thornton, CO, ex-spouse Barbara Gash of Redding, CA, as well as his children Alex, Andrew, and Megan, and five grandchildren Addison, Delaney, Gillian, Jonas, and Nicholas, each of California.

A virtual celebration of remembrance will be held for Phil on April 15, 2023 at 10am PST. Phil will be laid to rest in the Eydmann family burial plot in Parkview Cemetery in Farmington, Missouri, at 2:30pm on May 6. Please contact the family for further information at mhgash@gmail.com.

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