Obituary

On December 9, 1943, Phyllis Evelyn was born to Seymour Reed and Florence Blatt Reed at The Mount Vernon Hospital in New York. Shortly thereafter, Phyllis was blessed with a wonderful sister, Carolyn, and brother Alan.

Phyllis led a fulfilling life as a devoted daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, and teacher.

Phyllis attended elementary school in Beaver Dam, New York State, Trap Hagen Elementary School in Mount Vernon, NY, and Columbus Elementary in Mount Vernon, NY. After completing eighth grade, Phyllis continued her education at A.B. Davis and the Cherry Lawn Boarding School High Schools in Darien, CT.

She pursued her higher education at Skidmore University in Saratoga Springs, NY, graduating in 1965 with a major in mathematics. During her academic journey, Phyllis earned multiple academic awards that paved the way for her lifelong career in education.

The cornerstone of Phyllis’s life was her unwavering love. This love radiated in her close and cherished relationships with her parents and siblings, her dedicated thirty-nine-year tenure as a middle school special education teacher, and her all-encompassing affection for her husband, children, and grandchildren.

Phyllis’s first marriage, in 1965 to Joseph Zamore, brought two wonderful children into her life: Neal and Cindy. Neal, in turn, blessed Phyllis with beautiful grandchildren named Jacob and Lorelei. Similarly, Cindy bestowing upon Phyllis four grandchildren: Madison, Ryan, Mclane, and Tyler.

Her second marriage, to Peter Borgia, expanded Phyllis’s family with three step children: Diane, Richard, and John, and four additional grandchildren: Melissa, Bryson, Stephen, and John.

Phyllis exuded a persona of timeless elegance. She never masked her true self, always offering warmth and a listening ear to all. Her intelligence was never flaunted; she engaged everyone on equal footing. Her many fortunate friends knew they were in the company of someone devoid of pretension, a person who empathically understood their needs.

Throughout her life, Phyllis possessed an uncanny ability to convey her thoughts through subtle facial expressions, earning her the moniker of the “Lady of a Thousand Faces.” Her family, students, and friends never remained in doubt about her feelings. Experiencing the nuances of Phyllis's trademark was considered an honor.

Phyllis was also a resolute and self-reliant woman. When tasks needed attention, she confidently wielded the tools required. She abhorred procrastination, preferring to tackle problems head-on. This determination was particularly evident when she chose to cook for around sixty family members at our annual backyard reunions instead of hiring a catering service, always delivering her trademark look and the request, "...and please stay out of my kitchen."

Every facet of Phyllis’s character reflects the bedrock of her beautiful soul, now enveloped in God’s loving embrace. Nature’s radiant light now graces the soul that once walked among us. We must hold onto the belief that such a soul is not lost forever; someday our souls will be together as they were until Sunday October 9, 2023.

With our love and gratitude for your expressions of love and sympathy, we hope these words will help you remember Phyllis Evelyn Reed Borgia.

Sincerely,
Peter, Neal, and Cindy, Diane, Richard and John