Philip Bernard Spigner

Philip Bernard Spigner was born on October 19, 1951 at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. He was the second child born to Archie and Christine Spigner. Philip attended Jamaica High School in Queens, New York. Afterwards, he attended New York University for a year before he decided to pursue his real passion, music. Philip began playing hand drums in different venues around New York City before starting his own freestyle band. 

In 1988, he married the late Sae (Jackie) Chung, which ended in divorce several years later. No children were born from that union. Philip later began to devote his time to his nephew Jerome, whom he loved dearly. He enjoyed traveling to various countries abroad and always encouraged his family and friends to do the same.

In 1997, Philip relocated to San Diego, California and never looked back. Upon relocating, he became a member of a 12-Step fellowship program, which played an integral role in his personal evolution. He worked at SDMTS as a bus operator for 18 years before retiring in 2016.

In retirement, he discovered a new passion and love for ballroom dancing. Philip took professional dance lessons, learning the Viennese waltz, American tango, bolero, cha-cha, foxtrot, hustle, rumba, samba, waltz quick step and the West Coast swing. He became an avid dancer, specializing in the foxtrot, hustle and samba. It wasn’t odd to find Philip on the dance floor three days a week perfecting his skills. 

Philip was called to eternal rest on July 25, 2024. He will be missed by all who knew him. Philip leaves to cherish his memory his nephew Jerome and his wife Crystal, grandnieces Ajeé and Chynna, cousins Sherwood, Gloria, and Roslin, and a host of beloved family and friends from his dance and recovery communities.