Here is Phil Tisi (center of photo) next to Sloatsburg Mayor Carl Wright, with Jenny Kirby, owner of Characters at the far left, Ken Wojehowski and Joyce Donohue. All gathered at Sloatsburg Elementary School this past winter.
Phil Tisi was one of those legendary people – prominent community advocate, connected political operator, mentor to many, and friend to nearly everyone. He was active early in Sloatsburg politics, taught in the Suffern Central School District and lived to see his dream of Sloatsburg and the corridor communities light up through revitalization and position the area as the kind of trail town destination he always imagined it might become.
— Joe Tursi, Mayor, Village of Hillburn, New York (@HillburnMayor) April 8, 2020
Phil passed away Tuesday on Passover Eve, due to complications of the Corona virus. Many thought he appeared on the road to recovery. Covid-19 was reportedly present in the supervisor’s office at Ramapo Town Hall, where Tisi worked as a consultant, before anyone knew that it was highly infectious.
Phil Tisi was a civic-minded gentleman who did an enormous amount of heavy lifting behind the scenes in the Suffern, Sloatsburg and Ramapo communities, and seemingly had his fingerprints on a vast number of improvement projects throughout Rockland County. Tisi wore many hats in his long career, from Suffern High School teacher to Sloatsburg political activist, to Town of Ramapo community relations czar and confidant of former town Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence, to avuncular mentor of projects and people who he befriended. Tisi’s advocacy and influence pushed through many important western Ramapo preservation initiatives.
Another day and more news of a friend passing from Covid-19. RIP Phil Tisi, you made a real difference in my life and thousands of other students
— Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) April 8, 2020
Closer to home, Phil had a hand in the recent preservation of the Smith House and Revolutionary War Cemetery at Woodmont Hills, was a proponent of Valley Rock Inn and Sloatsburg revitalization, worked tirelessly as champion of Suffern’s Lafayette Theater, helped preserve and maintain the Jacob Sloat House (Harmony Hall), worked with the Town of Ramapo to preserve Liberty Rock Park, build the Ramapo Senior Citizen complex on Route 202, get the Sloatsburg Ramapo Cemetery dedicated as an important historical site, and was even instrumental in helping with the Ramapo Land Company sale of land to the Village of Sloatsburg that eventually became the Community Fields.
The Suffern Basketball Program mourns the loss of former SHS History Dept. Chairman and longtime community advocate Phil Tisi…he was a good friend and big supporter of all Suffern sports…our thoughts & prayers are with his wife, children & grandchildren! God Bless you Phil
— Scott Wright (@SuffernBoysBask) April 8, 2020
Using the six degrees of separation idea, if you ask someone about Phil Tisi, it’s highly likely they have a story about how he was essential in helping to get something done.
As a Sloatsburger, Phil was always at work on behalf of the village. His support and advocacy has built the Highlands Bluegrass Festival into an important regional big-tent event. And his past good works are near everywhere, from parks to historical markers and lasting imprints on people. During recent conversations, where Phil would take you aside for a conspiratorial one-on-one, Tisi brimmed with energy and was excited about the direction of Sloatsburg.
“Sloatsburg’s finally trending,” he said, giving you that serious, intense look under the ever-present baseball cap, and then break into that broad, inclusive smile.
