Sabina Fitzgibbon Philip

Sabina FitzGibbon Philip died on August 29th in Manchester, Vermont after an extended illness. She was 88 years old. Sabina was born in New York City in 1927 to William and Vivian FitzGibbon.A life-long resident of New York City and Bedford, NY, the rhythm of the seasons had her making regular visits to the islands of Bermuda as well as to the mountains of Manchester, VT where both her parents as well as her grandmother had spent some of their happiest hours and where she was, upon her death, the longest tenured member of the Ekwanok Country Club, having joined in 1937.A graduate of The Nightingale Bamford School, she initially attended Smith College and then graduated from Barnard College. After college, Sabina worked for Vogue Magazine and then the interior design firm of Katherine Cowdin.In May of 1952, Sabina married her husband of 63 years, Peter Van Ness Philip. Together they had three children, all boys: William Van Ness, Thomas Winslow and Peter Sandys.Afflicted with Polio as a child, Sabina fully recovered and enjoyed many years as an avid and accomplished golfer. She and her family have played courses around the world; she has passed along her love and respect for the game to her children and grandchildren.An active and committed volunteer, Sabina dedicated many years of her life to causes that were important to her including Bellevue Hospital and The Nightingale Bamford School both in New York City as well as The Buckley School, also in New York City, where her sons attended and her husband was a long-standing Board Chair.Sabina is survived by her husband, Peter, as well as by her three sons: William and his wife Jennifer of Simsbury, CT, Thomas and his wife Lela of Greenwich, CT and Peter and his wife Victoria of Boynton Beach, FL and by seven grandchildren.Services will be private; in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either the Ekwanok Scholarship Fund, (3262 Main Street, PO Box 467, Manchester, VT 05254) or Friends of Hildene, (PO Box 377, Manchester, VT 05254).A reception will be held in her honor on Friday, September 11th from 6:00pm - 7:30pm at the Ekwanok Country Club, Manchester, VT.All are welcome. Services will be private.A reception will be held in her honor on Friday, September 11th from 6:00pm - 7:30pm at the Ekwanok Country Club, Manchester, VT.ALL ARE WELCOME