Obituary
Phyllis Colvin passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on December 31, 2025. Phyllis was born in Brooklyn, New York on August 15, 1949. She grew up in Levittown, Long Island, New York with her brothers Robert and Richard and her sister Lynn. She married her husband Gordon in 1972, and they lived happily in Port Jefferson, New York for 43 years. Their son Matthew was born in 1982. Upon her retirement in 2016, Phyllis and Gordon moved to Homosassa, Florida, joining Lynn in that community.
Phyllis had two careers. Initially, she worked in personnel administration for Grumman Aerospace. In her 40’s, as a working mom, she went back to college and graduated from Stony Brook University, Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 1994. She then got her master’s degree and taught Middle School Social Studies until her retirement in 2016.
When young, she loved golf. She enjoyed boating on Long Island Sound and later on the Homosassa River. Phyllis loved gardening and was active in the Garden Club at our first Florida home in Homosassa. A lifelong New York Yankees fan, she enjoyed attending Spring training in Tampa. She was a reader of countless books and enjoyed attending book club meetings.
She was strongly influenced by this quote from George Saunders: “When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people.” A friend recently said, “Her smile said it all.” She could light up the room!
She fought cancer for 10 years. Throughout, her strength and resilience were an inspiration to all that knew her.
She was an active mom. She joined the Mother’s Center of Suffolk County, providing support to first-time moms. She helped to start the first 4-H club for kids in her town. She was an Odyssey of the Mind coach for middle schoolers and an enthusiastic team mom for youth soccer and baseball travel teams. In Florida, she supported the educational programs of the Homosassa River Alliance.
Phyllis is survived by her husband, Gordon Colvin; and her son, Matthew Colvin (Jessie); her brother Richard; and her sister, Lynn.
Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents, Dominick and Nancy (Aversano); and her brother, Robert.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Stand Up to Cancer at Stand Up to Cancer.
NY Sea Grant family