SALEM -- Philip D. Bailey, 69, of Salem, died unexpectedly while playing golf in Wenham on Sunday, April 30, 2017.
Born in Salem, he was the son of the late William E. and Celia (Kocur) Bailey. Philip was raised and educated in Salem and was a graduate of Salem High School, Class of 1966.
Philip graduated from Tufts University in 1970 with a major in German, spending one college semester in Stuttgart, Germany, perfecting his German. With that background, he chose to be a high school teacher and taught German and Italian throughout his teaching career. With a high demand for language teachers, he taught in several communities in Massachusetts -- Woburn High, Hamilton-Wenham High, Haverhill High and Salem High. In 1988, he moved to Bar Harbor, Maine, and taught at Mount Desert Island High School for the next 15 years. During his teaching years, he planned several exchange programs with German high schools; and, also, chaperoned student trips to Western Europe.
Philip was passionate about his favorite sport, golf, both as a player and as a spectator. This passion started at a young age when he caddied at Kernwood Country Club. While at Salem High, he played on the SHS Golf Team and was captain his senior year, and then continued his golf career at Tufts. After college, he was off to play at numerous golf courses in New England. Philip was a member of Wenham Country Club for years and participated in two club championships. This year he was a member on the 2017 Men's Golf Committee at Wenham. His friendships and stories abound with the many golfers he played with, always challenging them and convincing them that the early-morning T-time was the best time of the day to get out on the course.
Philip always kept current, but enjoyed most the Classics in his reading, music and art appreciation, old tv shows and movies -- along with cooking Polish family recipes and frequently returning to Bar Harbor.
Surviving Philip is his brother, Robert Bailey and sister-in-law Charlene of Salem, and many cousins, friends and his numerous golfing buddies in Massachusetts and Maine. Philip will be missed by all who have enjoyed his friendship, his extensive knowledge, his creativity in writing and drawing, his humor, his golfing skills and his cooking.
Visiting hours are Sunday, May7, 2017 from 2 to 5 pm at the Full-Spychalski Funeral Home, 84 Washington Square East, by Salem Common, Salem. Funeral services are Monday, May 8, at 9 am from the funeral home followed by a Memorial Mass at 10 am at the St. John the Baptist Church, 28 St. Peter St., Salem. Interment will follow at Greenlawn Cemetery, Salem. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. If desired, in lieu of flowers, please donate in Philip's name to Northeast Animal Shelter, 347 Highland Avenue, Salem, MA 01970. (www.NortheastAnimalShelter.org ) For online guest book, visit www.SalemFuneral.com.