Born on July 18, 1932, in Vancouver, passed away peacefully at the St. John's Hospice in Vancouver on February 17, 2016.

He is survived by his sister Lisa (Robert) McArdle; daughters Anne (Bill) Griffin and Patricia (John) Owen and son Graham; and grandchildren Malloy, Frances and Alice Owen.

A brilliant and creative professor of mechanical engineering who taught at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Queen's University and the University of British Columbia, Phil had a profound influence on generations of students. Known as a dedicated, patient and considerate advisor, he also leaves a significant and multifaceted, theoretical and technical legacy in the field of energy and propulsion. A generation of power engineers relied on steam tables that he perfected, and he published extensively on the thermodynamic properties of heavy water. He co-authored many papers and a textbook on turbomachinery propulsion. His work ushered in a new era for natural gas-powered vehicles–the technologies he developed in this area dramatically expanded the potential uses of natural gas as a fuel for low-emission heavy-duty vehicles, and his injector continues to be used in thousands of trucks, buses and cars in North America, Europe and Asia. In 1995, Phil helped found Westport Innovations to build natural-gas engine systems; the company remains a world leader in low-emission transportation technology. He was honoured with numerous awards, including the Manning Prize, the McLachlan Memorial Award and the B.C. Government Minister's Environmental Award.

Phil was a loving husband to Marguerite, who preceded him in death, as well as a loving son, brother, father, uncle, grandfather and friend. A joyful Christian believer with a deep commitment to the church, he was in fellowship at St. John's Vancouver and was actively involved in the life of Regent College and other Christian organizations. Phil's lifelong avocation was exploring the relationship between Christian faith and rigorous scientific inquiry, which he believed represented complementary elements of the same search for truth. An innovator by nature, he led by encouragement and was happiest working or talking with a team of like-minded colleagues and friends. Generous, self-effacing, endlessly curious, unfailingly courteous to everyone he encountered, a man who loved people and loved his God, Phil will be remembered with gratitude by all who knew him. In lieu of flowers, donations to Regent College or Order of St. John Palliative Care Foundation would be gratefully appreciated.