Phillip Violet

If you should ever find yourself about to shred the gnar-gnar, listening to Blink182 or shouting RCTID! at a Timbers game, take a moment to stop and think of Phillip (you might have known him as Phil), who entered eternal life at the age of 35 years old while hiking Mt. Sopris in Colorado.  He was one of the greatest! a beloved son, a favorite brother, an extraordinary uncle and a phenomenal friend.

Phillip Daniel Violet made his entrance into this world during a home birth in Bend Oregon on January 4th 1987.  As a kid he spent hours reading history, playing with ninja turtles, legos or army men, often in the company of his best friend Colin. During his teen years he spent his time as a boy scout senior patrol leader, reenacting, starting a band with friends and driving around in an old datsun. After high school Phillip attended Oregon State University (Go Beavs!) where he obtained a Bachelors degree and consequently one of his first tattoos was the university logo proudly displayed on his lower leg.  Phil first fell in love with skiing and being in the mountains when his family would spend nearly every Saturday together at Bachelor while his dad patrolled.  His love of snowsports increased during the years he spent working as a ski tech at Next Adventure, so he decided to attend George Fox University (where he would earn an MBA) and set a goal of working full time in the ski industry. After spending some time in Summit County with Vail Co, he found a home working for Aspen Mountain and living in Carbondale. It should also be mentioned that, much to the dismay of his mother, an ER nurse, he decided that he very much enjoyed riding motorcycles.

Phil was legendary, full of just the right amount of humor, wisdom and fun, and all those who knew him have their own stories to tell. On Instagram, his most used hashtags were #goskiingwithyourfriends  #goskiingwithyourfam and #itstherockiesharry, he would often leave poignant comments, for example, “Helmet stickers are like tattoos, they’re part of the journey and stay on til the end” and he had recently shared the lyrics of Superman by Goldfinger while hanging out at the rodeo.  Ultimately, it was the rocky mountains, a soulmate, a community of close friends and a life lived to the fullest in the roaring fork valley, that brought him the most joy. “Coming home to a place he'd never been before, He left yesterday behind him, you might say he was born again, You might say he found a key for every door.”

As of Friday August 12th 2022, Phil is skiing really fast through waist deep pow in heaven and has been reunited with his grandparents, two uncles and his dog Achilles.  His spirit is carried on by his partner Amy (who was present at his passing), dad Jeffrey, mom Patricia, older sisters Kaitlin and Nicole, brother in-law Josh, nephew Connor, nieces Mariel and Alaina, former spouse Cherie, as well as many other uncles, aunts, cousins, family and friends too numerous to list, but not forgotten. He also leaves behind Chara, his saint bernard, who is now missing her favorite person.

Family, friends, co-workers and many others were not expecting for Phil’s life to be cut so short so soon. We mourn the loss of a future we thought we had and he will be greatly missed, always.

Details regarding a memorial service are to be determined. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Mountain Rescue Aspen. Phillip’s family is grateful to them for participating in assisting Amy, Chara and Phillip during his last moment here on earth. Donations can be made online at www.mountainrescueaspen.org by clicking the donate button or by mailing a check to: Mountain Rescue Aspen, 37925 Hwy 82, Aspen, CO 81611

Build Me a Son, O Lord

Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid; one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory.

Build me a son whose wishbone will not be where his backbone should be; a son who will know Thee and that to know himself is the foundation stone of knowledge. Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge. Here let him learn to stand up in the storm; here let him learn compassion for those who fail.

Build me a son whose heart will be clean, whose goal will be high; a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men; one who will learn to laugh, yet never forget how to weep; one who will reach into the future, yet never forget the past.

And after all these things are his, add, I pray, enough of a sense of humor, so that he may always be serious, yet never take himself too seriously. Give him humility, so that he may always remember the simplicity of greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, the meekness of true strength.

Then I, his father, will dare to whisper, “I have not lived in vain.”   (by General Douglas MacArthur)