Town leaders look back fondly on former selectmen Lincoln Phillips

Michelle Warren, The Chronicle, Willimantic, Conn.
·2 min read

Jun. 29—WILLIMANTIC — The pastor who was giving Aaron Kupec's aunt's eulogy in 2004 spoke about topics unrelated to her, Kupec recalled. At one point, the pastor told the audience that he was almost done, to which Kupec's friend, Lincoln Phillips, said "thank God."

While remembering his friend, who died on June 17, Kupec said that reaction made some laugh but others gave Phillips dirty looks.

"That was Lincoln," Kupec said. "He spoke his mind and he had a big personality."

Phillips, a former selectman in Windham, was born on Oct. 19, 1964 and died at the age of 57. The Windham Town Council held a moment of silence in his memory during its June 21 meeting.

"He was funny," said longtime WILI morning newscaster Wayne Norman, who knew Phillips for many years. "He knew the town (Windham). He never left it."

According to his obituary, at the age of 23, he was the youngest person ever elected to the Windham Board of Selectmen, which he was elected to in 1987. Phillips' obituary indicates that he graduated from St. Mary-St. Joseph School in 1979 and Windham High School in 1983.

He also attended Eastern Connecticut State University before working at Travelers Insurance and in retail positions at Caldor and the UConn Co-Op bookstore.

Phillips worked for UConn Parking Services for 22 years.

Kupec said Phillips never "lost that sort of politician vibe to really be able to connect with anyone." He said Phillip's friends were of varying ages, noting that at 40 years-old, he was significantly younger than Phillips.

"He had a great personality," Kupec said, noting that he had an "irreverent sense of humor."

Windham Mayor Thomas DeVivo and his wife, Pam DeVivo, knew Phillips for many years. Pam DeVivo, who said she has known Phillips since he was 18 years-old, said he was a "gentle" and "friendly" person.

"He had an infectious smile and infectious personality," Thomas DeVivo said. " He was just that kind of guy."

He said he was "shocked" when he heard Phillips died.

"He was a really good guy and I will miss him," DeVivo said.

Windham Town Manager Jim Rivers, who was interviewed by Phillips at WILI, expressed similar sentiments.

"He was a nice guy and I enjoyed conversations with him," he said. "He's going to be missed."

Kupec, who grew up in Windham, said Phillips lived in the same neighborhood as his grandmother. He said he was one of the "pesky kids riding around his Chrysler Newport, way before I knew we would become co-workers in the future."

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