Philip Andrew Dorrance, age 70, of Attleboro MA passed suddenly on Friday September 13, 2024.
Phil was born October 16, 1953 in Attleboro, MA, the son of Bradford and Mary (DeNicholas) Dorrance. Phil graduated from Attleboro High School in 1971, where he was a part of the swim team and woodshop. He was part of a band called Cage where he played bass guitar. He then went on to Bryant College earning a bachelor’s degree in business.
Phil is survived by Gail (Charron) whom he married on Valentines Day - February 14, 1976. He met the love of his life in science class at AHS and these high school sweethearts have been married 48 years. Phil loved Gail and Gail loved Philly - they danced in the kitchen and went on dates and held hands at every opportunity. They showed people what is meant to love unconditionally and love hard.
Phil was a talented woodworker and furniture builder and along with his parents and wife, opened Heavy Pine Furniture in Norton, MA in 1974 which later became Great Woods Furniture. After 27 years, Phil made the tough decision to close Great Woods Furniture and move on to his next chapter. Growing up around construction at Dorrance Excavating, Phil wanted to drive a truck so in 1999, Phil joined Walsh Contracting of Attleboro, MA. He drove #53 and loved to tell stories of every pile of dirt he moved. Towards the end of his career, he drove an asphalt tack truck giving him the nickname “Tack Man 1” by his loving family. There was not a parking lot or road he paved that his family did not hear the story of. Phil officially retired in 2018.
He enjoyed many activities among them mowing his lawn, riding his electric bike, eating freeze pops, driving his Red Jeep Wrangler, a Sunday chicken dinner with his family, skydiving, having a margarita, boating in NH, using a leaf blower on Sunday mornings, playing golf, sitting by his pool, building heavy wooden things, playing washers, eating Bliss Brother ice cream, watching the Price is Right, The History Channel, classic rock music, and above all, his family.
Phil is survived by two daughters Lisa dos Santos of Attleboro, MA and Keli Sanford of Rehoboth, MA. To say Phil was a loving father does not even begin to explain the relationship Phil had with his daughters. Phil was everything to his girls and they were so loved by him. While Phil never had sons, in 2007 Dain dos Santos (husband of Lisa) and Ben Sanford (husband of Keli) officially joined the family. Phil and Dain shared a love of the outdoors and while Dain taught Phil how to ice fish, Phil taught Dain so much more. Phil and Ben had a special relationship from back in the furniture store days when Ben used to help Phil and his dad Brad, deliver furniture. Phil and Ben loved to go skiing together, play pool with the Wednesday night boys and debate current events. In 2009 Phil gained his favorite title – Gramps, Ella Dorrance dos Santos (daughter of Lisa and Dain) and Andrew Becket Sanford (son of Keli and Ben) were born followed in 2011 by Kate Elizabeth dos Santos (daughter of Lisa and Dain). Phil’s world was complete. There was not a basketball game, swim meet, art show, concert, or soccer game that Phil missed. He was the biggest cheerleader for his family.
Phil is survived by his brother James Dorrance and his wife Donna Dorrance of Attleboro, MA, sister Cathy (Dorrance) and her husband Stan Delizo of Lynnwood, WA, sister Penny (Dorrance) and her husband Glenn Stylides of Point Pleasant, NJ and sister Linda (Dorrance) and her Seymour Howes of Merrimack, NH. His godchildren Jason Dorrance of Attleboro, MA, James Tuiriok of Cranston, RI and Aly (Delizo) King of Seattle, WA. Along with his many nieces and nephews who knew him very affectionately as Uncle Phil.
His Funeral Mass, to which relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend, will be celebrated on Thursday September 19th at 11:00 A.M. at St. John the Evangelist Church in Attleboro, with Father Craig Pregana officiating. Burial will be private.
Visiting hours are omitted and in lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Phil’s name can be made to the American Heart Association, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, or the American Cancer Society.
To send his family a message of condolence, please visit www.nortonmemorial.com