OCEAN PARK — J. Philip Denison passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family, on Sept. 22, 2014.

He was born Nov. 14, 1935 in Huntington, Indiana, son of Cornelia and W. Harold Denison.

After graduating from Denison University, he met and married his wife of 54 years, Marsha. They settled in Simsbury, Connecticut, where they raised their two daughters, and resided until they retired and moved to their home in Ocean Park, where they spent summers for many years.

He started his career with CIGNA, where we worked for many years before becoming a founding partner of New England Capital Planner, a financial consulting and investment advisory firm.

He had a lifelong passion and commitment for his volunteer work with the YMCA on a local, national and international level. On the local level, he was a past chairman and honorary member of the Board of Managers of the Farmington Valley Branch of the Greater Hartford YMCA as well as a past member and chairman of the Board of Directors of the Northern York County Family YMCA in Biddeford. Nationally, he was an eight-year member of the National Board of Directors of the YMCA of the USA and a member for many years of the International Committee of the U.S. YMCA. As part of his service, he was a member of the Jerusalem Development Task Force, as well as an ex-officio member of the Board of Directors of the Jerusalem International YMCA and trustee of the Nazareth, Israel YMCA. Internationally, he completed two terms as a member of the Executive Committee of the World Alliance of YMCAs in Geneva, serving on several finance committees as well as the Israel-Palestine Task Force. As part of his international work over the years, he visited YMCAs in more than 35 different countries around the world.

In 2002, he received the R.C. Knox Award for outstanding volunteer leadership, and then in 2004, he received the Harold C. Smith Award for “Distinguished YMCA Service” recognizing his contribution as a volunteer for the YMCA at the local, national and international levels. This past July, the YMCA of Southern Maine honored him by creating the J. Philip Denison International Fund, which is committed to providing support and spreading his passion for the youth served by YMCA’s international work.

His dedication to community service also extended to many other organizations where he volunteered as an active member of the Ocean Park Association, Rotary Club, Seeds of Hope and the Salvation Army.

He is survived by: his wife, Marsha; two daughters, Kristin Denison and Karen and her husband David Ix; three grandchildren, Matthew, Christopher and Sarah; two brothers, Robert and his wife Carla Denison and David and his wife Marcia Denison; and several loved nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the YMCA J. Philip Denison International Fund, c/o Northern York County YMCA, 3 Pomerleau St., Biddeford, ME 04005; the Ocean Park Maine Association; or Trinity Episcopal Church of Saco. A celebration of his life will be held Saturday, Oct. 4 at 11 a.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, with a reception to follow. Online condolences may be expressed at www.cotefuneralhome.com.