Phillip Ndegwa Mathangani was born to Edwin and Loise Mathangani on June 1st, 1988. They lived in New Jersey then, but soon after moved to New York to settle in permanently.

Even at a young age, Phil knew how to please a crowd and make new friends. He would often play with the neighborhood kids as well as the kids of the daycare that he attended. He also found time to get into trouble with his younger sister, as siblings do, but those were some of the many life lessons learned. He was very caring and respectful of his elders and always willing to lend a helping hand.

Not only did he have a great personality, he was also very studious. Phil was an A+ student who respected his teachers, and got involved in sports, music, and volunteering. He was athletic from a young age joining the local little league baseball team, to varsity tennis in high school, and everything in between like Kung-Fu, soccer and basketball. He was a leading violist in the concert orchestra, involved in many extra-curricular activities, and served and volunteered at his church.

Phil graduated North Rockland High School in 2006 and went on to attend the University of Pennsylvania in the Wharton School of Business. While attending college, Phil made many new friends and studied abroad in China for one semester his junior year. He graduated with honors in 2010.

Soon after graduating, he landed a job at the Investment Company UBS as an Investment Analyst in Manhattan and moved into the lower east side with two of his best friends. He was a hard worker and dedicated colleague. He often worked long hours to get his job done but still knew how to enjoy himself in his free time whether taking a short weekend home to be with his family, or going out with his friends.

While Phil’s life was short, it was full of great accomplishment, incredible experiences and people who loved him dearly, and he has given us all a great model of how to live life.