Governing his life by the Protestant work ethic, Phil McWhorter lived by the principle that he should leave every institution stronger than when he entered it. One could argue that Argyle Central School, St. Lawrence University, Greenwich Hospital, First Presbyterian Church of Greenwich, and the McWhorter family itself were each made stronger by the impact he had on them.
Philip John McWhorter was born to William “Wallace” McWhorter and Helen Durkee McWhorter on October 20, 1947 at Glens Falls Hospital in upstate New York. Phil’s father, Wallace was the proud owner and operator of McWhorter’s Apple Orchard in Argyle, NY as well as the town’s Justice of the Peace. Phil was the second oldest of five children, Paul (deceased 2016), Melvin (Kerrie), Douglas (Sue), and Ruth (Rafael).
As soon as he could walk, Phil was dribbling a basketball (more likely shooting it), hitting and catching baseballs, and throwing spirals. While a blessed athlete, he blossomed into a star due to hard work and immense self-confidence. Phil lived by the mantra that one misses every shot that one does not take. At many a class reunion, his teammates would kid that “Phil thought any shot was a good shot the moment he walked in the gym!” He was the all-time leading scorer at Argyle Central School for close to two decades.
Phil proceeded to St. Lawrence University where he initially majored in Physical Education. As a junior, he made the transformative decision to switch his major to pre-med. A Phi Beta Kappa student, Phil also found time to earn all-conference honors playing on the baseball and basketball teams. His accolades along with his academic achievements earned Phil enshrinement in St. Lawrence University’s Athletic Hall of Fame.
Phil accomplished the biggest coup of all, however, by marrying the love of his life, Linda Kathryn Bristol after his sophomore year in college. Their romance spanned high school, college, and 56 years of marriage. The happy couple relocated to New York City in 1969 as Phil began medical school at Cornell followed by residency at New York Hospital. After his residency concluded, Phil and Linda moved to Greenwich, Connecticut to begin Phil’s practice at Greenwich Hospital in 1977.
Dr. McWhorter’s service at Greenwich Hospital spanned 44 years, during which time he took care of thousands of patients and held many positions of leadership. He was Greenwich Hospital’s Chief of Staff from 1998-2000 during the capital campaign and construction of the current Greenwich Hospital. After completing that three-year term, he served the remainder of his time on the Greenwich Hospital Staff as Chief of Surgery from 2001 to 2021.
Phil was not interested in accolades. Quite the opposite, he plied his trade so he could help others. Blessed with both a magnetic bedside manner and the exceptional confidence that surgeons are renowned to have, Dr. McWhorter was honored to be able to help people heal.
Rivaling his fondness for helping patients to heal and resume their lives was Phil’s fondness for his colleagues. Many of his deepest and longest friendships were with his co-workers. Whether in the operating room, the office, staff meetings, or in the cafeteria, Phil was gifted at making others feel heard and valued. Yet, as his good friends can attest, he never missed the opportunity to share his assertions on all things political, societal, and athletic.
The McWhorter family grew during Phil and Linda’s time in New York City. Oldest son, Jeremy (Eileen) was born while Phil was in medical school and Linda was working as a dental hygienist. Their second son, Peter (Lindsay), was born soon after the family moved to Greenwich. Youngest child, Megan, was born three years after that. While proud of his work as a physician, Phil was first and foremost a family man. Whether coaching his sons in athletics or supporting his daughter’s beautiful singing voice and love of literature, there wasn’t anything that Phil wouldn’t do for his family. His three children often remarked that their dad was more nervous for their high school tests, athletic contests, and solos than they were. Phil always gave and never took. While he pushed for the best from his co-workers and children, he was also the most vocal of cheerleaders as well.
Perhaps the greatest joy in Phil’s life was his grandchildren. Jeremy and Eileen’s children, Kyra and Emily, Peter and Lindsay’s children, Hudson, William, and Everett, and Megan’s son James brought Phil exceeding joy. Whether tossing the football, driving them in the boat, or watching them perform at church, he was always a loving and playful “Grampy.”
Phil’s children figured there must be at least some justice in the world because as much as he thrived at all of his endeavors, the game of golf tantalized and humbled him repeatedly. Nonetheless, he remained vigilant in his efforts. Phil found refuge at the driving range, wearing out the turf, and the ears of anyone who dared to tee up next to him as he held court. Phil cherished the many lasting relationships he made at The Stanwich Club.
Phil’s relationship with his church and his fellow parishioners at First Presbyterian was a central part of his life. Whether reflecting on the profound sermons of his beloved
ministers Cindy Cearley, Bill Evertsberg, and Matthew Colwell, or serving as a deacon or elder for the majority of his 43 years as a member of the church, Phil lived a life of God and hoped to spread acts of goodness to all those he touched.
Phil never stopped marveling at the miracle of Easter and he would have wanted us to find comfort there. The Psalmist reminds us that “weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Those who knew him best would acknowledge that Phil was blessed with more than his share of talents. The beauty of his life was in how he used them for the good of others. Amen.
A memorial service will be held for Phil on Tuesday, January 23 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Greenwich.