"Sailor with a Heart" by Madeline Frank, Ph.D., DTM

How would you like to meet a very fine family man and learn by his example?

I’m going to tell you about this caring family man, son, brother, husband, father, friend, and neighbor. His name was Kevin Matthew Phillips.

He lived next to my family in our neighborhood with his wife and three children.

On a crisp Spring day after work, as I pulled into our drive way ,I noticed our neighbor, Kevin, working on an old boat in his side yard with his young son Trenton.

I asked about the boat and Kevin said, "The boat was my Grandfather's and we are restoring his boat as a legacy for Trenton". Kevin was teaching his son how to replace the rotted wood on the hull by re-gluing new treated wood in its place to preserve it for the next generation. They were both smiling and enjoying their work together.

A couple of months later, my husband and I piloted our boat to one of our favorite places, Factory Point. This little slice of heaven is adorned with a beach on one side and a bird sanctuary on the other. As we walked on the beach, we were greeted by the smiling faces of Kevin, his wife Kirstie,and their children, Trenton, Makenna, and Whitney Mae. They were enjoying a wonderful day together playing in the sand and swimming.

Later in the season, a terrible storm slammed into our area, and our dock in the back yard of our house was covered by water. I noticed our boat coming loose and ran out to tighten the ropes. I was having trouble tightening the ropes securing our boat to the dock. While the water was rising and the wind was blowing, I felt another pair of hands, Kevin's, helping me to tie the boat tighter.


What lessons have we learned from Kevin Phillips?

He was always willing to listen and help solve a problem. He listened intently when someone was talking. Kevin was always there when family, friends, and neighbors needed a hand and would guide them through the problem.

So remember to listen carefully, keep your eyes open to see what's happening around you. When you see someone needing help in a storm or any other time, lend them a hand.

Kevin Matthew Phillips passed away on June 16, 2013. He was 40 years old and his life was cut short, but his legacy lives on. His family, friends, and neighbors were blessed to have known such a wonderful caring person who was always willing to lend a hand. Kevin had a passion for being on his boat and sharing this passion with his family and friends.



Madeline Frank, Ph.D., DTM is an Amazon.com Best Selling author, sought after speaker, business owner, teacher, researcher, and concert artist. She helps businesses and organizations "Tune Up Their Businesses." Her innovative observations show you the blue prints necessary to improve and keep your business successful. She writes a monthly newsletter "Madeline's Monthly Article & Musical Tips Blog " and a monthly radio show "Madeline's One Minute Musical Radio Show". If you need a speaker contact Madeline at: mfrankviola@gmail.com