Philip Price, Jr.

Philip Price, Jr., a lifelong resident of Philadelphia, died peacefully surrounded by his family on February 1, 2023. He was 88 years old. Mr. Price, the youngest child of Philip Price, Sr. and Sarah Harrison Price, was best known as a champion of numerous Philadelphia non-profit organizations. He had a deep interest in American history and was a descendant of several notable figures including Civil War General George Gordon Meade, 12th U.S. President Zachary Taylor and Joseph Harrison, Jr. who was responsible for building the Saint Petersburg – Moscow Railway. Mr. Price loved learning, and was a graduate of St. Paul’s School, Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania Law School. While at St. Paul’s, he was an accomplished athlete and was awarded the Gordon Medal, the school’s highest athletic honor. While at Harvard, Mr. Price was an enthusiastic member of the Porcellian Club and the Krokodiloes, Harvard’s oldest acapella group. Mr. Price started his career as an attorney at his father’s law firm, Dechert Price & Rhoades (now called Dechert, LLP) and then worked in the public defender’s office. He was active in politics and elected as a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1976. In 1978, he was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate where he served until 1982. For many years, Mr. Price was president of the Allegheny West Foundation, a community development organization dedicated to economic development in the Allegheny West neighborhood. Mr. Price served on the boards of many organizations including the Fairmount Park Conservancy, The Association for Public Art, the Civil War Museum of Philadelphia, The Woodlands Cemetery, The Woodlands Trust For Historic Preservation, The Ludwick Foundation and Saint James School. He was most passionate about Fairmont Park, and his work followed a long family tradition which started with his great grandfather, Eli Kirk Price, who was responsible for securing the land for the park. His grandfather, Eli Kirk Price II, was instrumental in the development of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and his father Philip Price, Sr. served on the Fairmount Park Commission. Mr. Price, affectionately called “Phil” by his friends, loved his family and took great joy in spending time with his children and grandchildren, especially during summers in Maine. To those who knew him well, his deep laugh was infectious, as was his playful nature. He enjoyed tennis into his 80s and liked to switch hands mid-match to create an extra challenge. Mr. Price is survived by his wife of 63 years, Sarah Price; two sisters: Sarah (Sally) Chittenden and Evelyn (Evie) Scott; his three children Alexandra (Aly) Price, Emilie Price and Philip Price, III; and six grandchildren. A memorial service will be held in the spring.