I was in our 1970 Study abroad group to Cologne(Köln). Phild and I hitched down to Francorchamp/ Spa in Belgium to the F1 race.  So Brit picked us up in a Peugeot  that basically had lawn furniture for car seats. We ate at some cafe  and I had  French Onion soup. Phil was talked out of a Steak Tartar which was a good idea. We slept in the woods on the track. to save admission fees for tickets.  After the race we actually had enough money to take a train back to Köln. Only F1 race I have ever been at . I think between the two of us the weekend cost about $8. Phil was always a mensch.

Phil was one of the kindest and most respectful people I ever known.  Just walking by his house he always had a warm greeting and kind words to share, be it a question about one's day or offering his neighborly help. 

One September day Phil picked all of the fruit of his small but abundant plum tree on the side walk in front of his yard clustering them in two paper bags under the tree with the thought in mind that he will soon return to the tree to bring these plums inside.  To my embarrassment, I thought that these were plums that Phil decided to give away, and picked the bags up giving one to a friend who stopped by my house while taking the other bag into our home for ourselves. Just a bit later later as I was walking by Phil's property and was about to thank him, Phil told how all the plums he picked has taken the crop he left in the bags under the tree. This is when I realized that in my naivete I have unintentionally stolen  Phil's plums. While I could return to him the ones I kept for us, I could not return the ones I gave to my friend who left with them. Phil - in his generous, clever and kind manner- noticed my embarrassment and never held it against me - remaining the same wonderful neighbor to the end of his life. There are many people whom Phil has touched and  inspired throughout his life other than his close up family.   Phil will always be remembered and the human qualities he has embodied are and will be an inspiration for each of us to always think of Phil walking with us throughout our lives making the world a better place.  We offer our deepest condolences to his family and all of his friends and loved ones. Liliana and Svend neighbors to the East

We will always remember Phil as an intelligent, athletic, active man. We admired his love of family, nature, music, travel and much more. We are so sorry that he left us so soon and we send our deepest condolences to Cindy, Cara, Danny and family.  Andrea & Bruce Davies 

My memories of Phil date back to the 80's when we initially arrived in Seattle. Over the years I always enjoyed our time together as young then older fathers raising our kids together both on Queen Anne; in particular during our annual sojourns to Fort Warden enjoying the beach, hikes through the forts and playing various sports games on the parade grounds. As with other friends Phil and I enjoyed the occasional tennis match not so much for the competition but mostly for the friendship. Traveling through different lands and cultures was always a special treat for Phil & Cindy, a highlight for Shelagh & myself was their wonderful hosting of us in Turkey.

We have many fond memories of Phil and Cindy and are so grateful of their friendship and generosity.  They always opened their house up and we always caught up with them when we passed through Seattle and shared travel stories.  Likewise we we're extremely happy that they visited us in Canada and attended our wedding in Northern Territory  Australia where we could share our home town with them.  We were deeply sadened to hear of Phils passing and give our condolences to Cindy, Cara, Danny and family.  Phil had such a calming nature and will be missed. 

 Regards Dale,  Mary and Declan.  (Darwin, AUSTRALIA).

Phil Herter: A Gentleman and a gentle man 

We see only limited facets of the lives of even our closest friends. So remembrances like this are most authentic if they recall the parts of  of their lives that we actually witnessed, even if they seemed inconsequential at the time. 

In the case of Phil Herter there are two instances of his life that I witnessed that I want to share.

There was a time in the early to mid-1980s (before Pickleball) when the au current racquet sport was tennis. Phil and I played each other occasionally. He was mostly a better tennis player than I was, and he mostly beat me. But there was one time when I beat him in an epic three match set at the Rodgers Park tennis courts on Queen Anne.  (Okay, it may not have been epic or three sets.  But the point is, I won.) I was gloating a bit, but Phil was, of course, gracious in defeat. And he asked for a rematch. Soon.  And I thought to myself:  what a gentleman. 

The other instance that illustrates Phil's character and life occurred sometime later. Perhaps in the 1990s? Phil's father had passed and his mother, Ruth could no longer live independently  so she was living at Cindy and Phil's house. Ruth was confused and frightened at times.  I was over at the Herter's for a backyard barbeque or picnic.  I was asked by someone to "find Phil" or give him something or tell him something. I really don't remember exactly.

When I did locate Phil he was upstairs in the house in Ruth's room. He was just sitting next to Ruth and holding her hand.  He was not saying anything to her.  Nor she to him.  But it was obvious that his quiet, respectful presence was a great comfort to her in that moment.  And I thought to myself then: what a kind and gentle man Phil Herter is. 

David and I were so sorry to learn of Phil's illness and death.  With Cindy, we have been friends for more than 50 years.  We met when Phil came to the Daily News-Record in Harrisonburg, Va.  He was a wonderful reporter, combining his considerable writing skills with curiosity and empathy.  I was proud to be his colleague.  The four of us spent many happy hours together as we shared a love of tennis, cooking and travel.  David and I learned so much about travel from the much more experienced Herters and they shared debriefs from our first trips abroad.  We enjoyed meals in each other's homes and doubles on public tennis courts around town.  After they moved away, we kept in touch and visited each other as travel permitted.  Although they probably don't remember this, our children met in Seattle when they were quite small.  Cindy, we can only imagine the loss you and your family are experiencing.  Please know that many people around the world are sending love your way.  We will be there in spirit when you celebrate Phil's amazing life on January 4.

 I'm so sorry for your loss of Philip.  He was a friend through grade school and high school at the Delaware County Christian School.  The last time I saw him it was 1966---but he is etched in my memories and when ever I reminisced of those days, Phil always comes to mind.  He loved the Lord and I always thought he would become a professor at a seminary... reading this, I see his life was quite full...so glad that he knew the joy of children and grandchildren.

Very sincerely,

Lynne Davis Adair, Class of 1966.

Phil and I decided during our lessons in Köln that we could save money and travel thru Europe if we bought a car together and pooled our money for gas and food. So we got a German friend to go with us to buy a used 1958 VW bug and began to get ready to go. One week after, I blew the engine driving in Efren and when we were drinking and trying to figure out what to do next a fellow student said "I just totaled my bug, why don't you put my engine in yours?" So armed with a repair manual and borrowing tools from a local garage (and the help of friends) we wrangled the engine into that old bug. It ran flawlessly until we sold it in England months later.  On our trip we never slept in a bed (except in Pfeffingen where we visited his father’s boyhood German friend who was a prisoner-of-war captured in Stalingrad). Didn’t get home again ’til 1956. His story really changed my thinking about some things - then he gave me a “Million” mark Schein that had been stamped “Milliarde” - and you still couldn’t buy a loaf of bread. Interesting times.

Still don’t know how we slept in fields each night, but never had any trouble. Then there was London where the Bobbies would roust us in the parks each morning - but I could mollify them with Marlboros. It was great that I could rely on Phil to figure out Greek road signs before I killed us both. No matter what weather or challenge we faced Phil never lost his sense of calm acceptance and desire to do whatever we had to do to move on. Many meals were cooked in that VW and I learned how to sleep sitting up. Wanted to relive our adventures and see what pictures Phil still had - guess I waited too long. I will miss that smiling face. Peace. Tom

Phil was a great guy with a wry sense of humor. We had a great time with Cindy and Phil in Cleveland and enjoyed their big move to Seattle. It was fun watching our families grow until we all somehow we all became grandparents!

Unfortunately we will not be able to attend, because this is the first day of a long-planned cruise out of Florida. We will be at sea and not able to attend virtually.