Philip D. Lively
Oct. 15, 1928-June 12, 2015
Atherton, California

On June 12, 2015, Philip D. Lively passed away in his home, surrounded by his family, after complications from a recent stroke. He was 86 years old. Phil was born in Medford, Oregon, on October 15, 1928. He was the only child of the late James and Pauline Lively, who moved to San Jose when Phil was 18 months old and became involved in the prune ranching and packing business. Phil was lucky enough to grow up in the Santa Clara Valley when it was truly the "Valley of Heart?s Delight."

He graduated from Lincoln High School in San Jose and matriculated at Stanford University, where he graduated in 1951 with a B.S. in Industrial Engineering. After graduation, he became a licensed professional engineer and retained that status for the rest of his life.

He was a brilliant and talented engineer. He began his career at Food Machinery Corporation (FMC) in San Jose, where he quickly rose in the business ranks from line foreman to manager of manufacturing operations in FMC?s Ordinance Division.

Phil lived and worked in the Bay Area for most of his career, with a six-year stint in Portland, Oregon, for the FMC Marine and Rail Division, were he ran operations to build rail cars and oil tankers.

In 1979, Phil and his wife Joyce returned to the San Francisco Bay Area, where Phil joined the Southern Pacific Transportation Company as a member of senior management, overseeing the maintenance and repair facilities for the company?s network of railways, and locomotives and rail car fleets. After retiring as the Chief Mechanical Officer for Southern Pacific, Phil parlayed his talents into consulting for the worldwide transportation industry from Mexico to Russia.

Throughout his career and retirement, Phil was an active, dedicated and passionate advocate of community planning. He joined the City of Saratoga Planning Commission during the late 1960s and was chairman of the commission for three years in the early 1970s.

Phil was also dedicated to the town of Atherton from the 1990s to the present. In Atherton, Phil served as both a member and chairman of the town of Atherton Planning Commission, the Rail Committee, the General Plan Committee, the Drainage Committee, and the Parcel Tax 2005 Committee.

Phil was also president of the Lindenwood Homes Association, where he and his wife Joyce have lived for the last 36 years.

Phil enjoyed many interests and hobbies. Phil was an avid fan of the Stanford football team, and as a season ticket holder, never missed a home game for the last 36 years. Phil was well-known for his popular pre-game tailgate parties, and post-game analysis sessions. Family, friends, and passers-by all participated, whether in the Stanford parking lot for home games or at home for the away games.

Even at the age of 86, Phil still made the walk to the game from the tailgate party and back again after the game. Phil also collected and rebuilt World War II Willys Jeeps as well as designed, built and operated remote-controlled replica model boats. Phil proudly sailed his boats every summer at Zephyr Cove, Lake Tahoe, where he and Joyce honeymooned and his family has vacationed every summer since.

At the center of Phil's life was his family. Phil is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Joyce Lowell Lively and their three children: David Lively and his wife Tricia, Janet Lively Fall and her husband Tom, and Dr. Daniel Lively and his wife Sherry, who sadly passed away just a few weeks ago on May 25th. Phil also leaves behind his four grandchildren, Virginia Lively, Mark Lively, Michael Elizabeth Fall, Erin Fall and his sister-in-law, Jacqueline Lowell of Los Angeles and her family. In addition, Phil leaves behind many treasured life-long friends, neighbors, business and town of Atherton colleagues.

The service will be held at the Trinity Episcopal Church, 330 Ravenswood Drive, Menlo Park, California, on Saturday, June 20, at 3:00, immediately followed by a reception.

Tags: business, public service