Philip John Dietz, Jr.
June 1, 1943 ~ October 2, 2018
OBITUARY - PHILIP JOHN DIETZ JR.
Philip John Dietz Jr. unexpectedly passed away Tuesday, October 2, 2018 in McLean, VA.
He is treasured by his beloved family, his daughter and son-in-law, Caroline and Michael Conway of Austin, TX; daughter and son-in-law, Christiane and James Shipman of Austin, TX; son, Geoffrey Dietz and fiancée Amy Feagles of Washington, DC; grandson Samuel Shipman and granddaughters Catherine Conway and Reagan Shipman; sisters Charlotte Cross and Maureen Keeney of Baltimore, MD; and many nieces, nephews, dear friends, and colleagues. He is also survived by the mother of his children, Sallie Burguieres Dietz.
Phil was born to the late Geraldine McKenzie and Philip John Dietz Sr., on June 1, 1943 in Towson, MD. Raised in Towson, he graduated from Loyola Blakefield in 1960 and Loyola University Maryland in 1964 with a degree in engineering, and received a master’s degree in engineering from the University of South Carolina.
Phil moved to the Washington area in 1966 and began a long and successful career in the defense contracting engineering industry. Using his intellectual and technical skills, his management career progressed from IBM to Raytheon E-Systems. After 30 years as a defense contractor, he embarked on a midlife career change to become a financial advisor with Merrill Lynch in Tysons Corner, VA, to enjoy working more closely with people and the community. He later went on to work for Wells Fargo Advisors, where he eventually retired as a vice president in 2016.
Always fun-loving and with good humor, Phil enjoyed golf and tennis, friends and fellowship, Redskins and Nationals games, Willie Nelson and Irish music, and time with his children and grandchildren. He loved to mentor and serve others and was an active member of the McLean community, coaching CYO basketball, serving as treasurer of his homeowners associations, supporting the Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce, volunteering with the Ignatian Volunteer Corps in DC, and other local community service activities.
A resident of McLean for more than 40 years, Phil regularly attended Saint Luke Catholic Church, where he served as a lector, a SOME volunteer and participated in many other parish outreach efforts over the years. He developed deep friendships and considered many of the parishioners extended family. Phil also cultivated many strong friendships throughout his life not only in McLean, but also in Baltimore and Austin, TX. His good nature, warmth, intellect, humor and faith will be missed in these communities.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at Saint Luke's Catholic Church, 7001 Georgetown Pike, McLean, VA, at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 13. The funeral service will be preceded by a visitation at 9:45 a.m. in the church’s chapel, and followed by a reception at the church’s Flaherty Hall. Interment private at Columbia Gardens Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Ignatian Volunteer Corps, 112 East Madison St. #300, Baltimore, MD 21202 in order to support their committed corps of retirees working to help the nation's poor.
Philip John Dietz Jr. unexpectedly passed away Tuesday, October 2, 2018 in McLean, VA.
He is treasured by his beloved family, his daughter and son-in-law, Caroline and Michael Conway of Austin, TX; daughter and son-in-law, Christiane and James Shipman of Austin, TX; son, Geoffrey Dietz and fiancée Amy Feagles of Washington, DC; grandson Samuel Shipman and granddaughters Catherine Conway and Reagan Shipman; sisters Charlotte Cross and Maureen Keeney of Baltimore, MD; and many nieces, nephews, dear friends, and colleagues. He is also survived by the mother of his children, Sallie Burguieres Dietz.
Phil was born to the late Geraldine McKenzie and Philip John Dietz Sr., on June 1, 1943 in Towson, MD. Raised in Towson, he graduated from Loyola Blakefield in 1960 and Loyola University Maryland in 1964 with a degree in engineering, and received a master’s degree in engineering from the University of South Carolina.
Phil moved to the Washington area in 1966 and began a long and successful career in the defense contracting engineering industry. Using his intellectual and technical skills, his management career progressed from IBM to Raytheon E-Systems. After 30 years as a defense contractor, he embarked on a midlife career change to become a financial advisor with Merrill Lynch in Tysons Corner, VA, to enjoy working more closely with people and the community. He later went on to work for Wells Fargo Advisors, where he eventually retired as a vice president in 2016.
Always fun-loving and with good humor, Phil enjoyed golf and tennis, friends and fellowship, Redskins and Nationals games, Willie Nelson and Irish music, and time with his children and grandchildren. He loved to mentor and serve others and was an active member of the McLean community, coaching CYO basketball, serving as treasurer of his homeowners associations, supporting the Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce, volunteering with the Ignatian Volunteer Corps in DC, and other local community service activities.
A resident of McLean for more than 40 years, Phil regularly attended Saint Luke Catholic Church, where he served as a lector, a SOME volunteer and participated in many other parish outreach efforts over the years. He developed deep friendships and considered many of the parishioners extended family. Phil also cultivated many strong friendships throughout his life not only in McLean, but also in Baltimore and Austin, TX. His good nature, warmth, intellect, humor and faith will be missed in these communities.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at Saint Luke's Catholic Church, 7001 Georgetown Pike, McLean, VA, at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 13. The funeral service will be preceded by a visitation at 9:45 a.m. in the church’s chapel, and followed by a reception at the church’s Flaherty Hall. Interment private at Columbia Gardens Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Ignatian Volunteer Corps, 112 East Madison St. #300, Baltimore, MD 21202 in order to support their committed corps of retirees working to help the nation's poor.
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You created such emptiness in our hearts and lives that words can’t express. Too soon and unexpected. Goodbye. Please watch over us.
In his generous moments
We offer our most sincere sympathy to the family and dear friends of Phil. His smile and good cheer will be fondly remembered by all who knew him. He will be missed.
Phil will be missed by many. A good friend with a genuine sense of humor. Much too soon.
Paul Lombardi
im so sorry thst this happened to you Phil you were always a kind and funny guy we had lots of laugjs at ML you wi be missed my friend RIP