Truman loses professor, BNB resident

People filled the SUB alumni room yesterday to celebrate the life of Todd Phillips, the director of the Student Success Center who died in a motorcycle crash last Thursday.

The memorial service opened with a picture slideshow of Todd coupled with quotes like "Live every day like it's you last" and "Love completely." The pictures ranged from him on his motorcycle to Todd and his son in theater productions.

After the slideshow, four people spoke about their experiences with Todd, which led into an open mic sharing session during which people shared memories of him. While people were sharing memories verbally, a book was passed around for memorial attendees to write memories in.  

Junior Jason Ralph was the first speaker at the service and shared memories of the first time Todd randomly appeared at a rugby team practice and the time he woke up everyone in the Alpha Kappa Lambda house, the social fraternity Todd advised, by  revving the engine of his motorcycle as loud as he could.

"It really started out as more of a professional relationship," Ralph said in an interview. "I actually really tried to pursue him as an adviser since he got here. He really became one of my better friends. I kind of looked to him as a guy that I could really talk to if I needed something." Ralph said Todd went to many rugby practices when he first came to Truman but couldn't go as often after the Student Success Center opened. But he drove to Columbia to watch the men's rugby team play March 19.  

"It was really good to see him out there," Ralph said. "He supported the team as much as he could."

Marty Eisenberg, Todd's immediate supervisor, said Todd played professional rugby at some point before he came to work at Truman three years ago.

Eisenberg said Todd was serious about helping people reach their potential and learn to become better students. He said Todd will be missed in the office.

"I can only stress how much of an honor it was to know him," Ralph said. "I wish there was a lot longer of a time that I could spend with him."

The memorial ended with a rendition of "Amazing Grace" performed by sophomore John Castles.