Lewis “Lew” E. Phillips MD

SCARBOROUGH – Lewis E. Phillips passed away peacefully June 7, 2026, one day after his 62nd wedding anniversary, at his home at Piper Shores in Scarborough, Maine, with his loving family by his side.

Lew’s wish was to dedicate his life to service. He lovingly accomplished this in his own quiet way through his care, compassion, and treatment of his patients, his service in the U.S. Army, and by encouraging education and supporting it through scholarships. With his kind and gentle smile, he was always ready to lend a hand, whether helping friends with home projects and yard care, spending every Saturday before Easter sprucing up the grounds at his church, or spearheading and supporting church organ improvements over the years.

He was born in Camden, N.J. to Dorothy (Slack) and William Phillips. He grew up in and graduated from high school in Pleasantville, N.J., and earned his BS in Commerce and Engineering from Drexel Institute of Technology in Philadelphia, Pa. in 1958. After his active military service, he attended Temple University for pre-med and received his MD from Hahnemann Medical College in Philadelphia in 1964. That same year, he also married his wife, Joan (Shuster) at St. James Episcopal Church in Atlantic City, N.J. A one-year, rotating internship at Polyclinic Hospital in Harrisburg, Pa. led to a three-year residency in internal medicine at Hartford Hospital in Connecticut where his two daughters were born.

Lew began his lifelong dream of being a physician with the opening of his Internal Medicine private practice in Bangor, Maine in 1968 with H A Holzwarth, MD, where they provided both hospital and outpatient care. He also valued working with other partners over the years until he retired in 2010.

He is a member of the American Medical Association, Maine Medical Association, American College of Physicians, charter member of the Rotary Club of Bangor Breakfast and was past president of Penobscot County Medical Society. In Bangor he was active at St. John’s Episcopal Church serving on the property committee and vestry. He also sang with the choir on their four tours of British Cathedrals. He and Joan enjoyed their special ABC dinner group and Saturday Nighters. His appreciation of the outdoors found him river canoeing, boating, fishing and hunting. Any day on the water with friends was a great day for him.

He was very proud of his family and being able to lovingly raise his daughters, with Joan, in Brewer, in a neighborhood filled with many wonderful families. Together they traveled, camped, and took advantage of all the features of nearby Acadia National Park. They also enjoyed their cottage at Phillips Lake in Lucerne where they hosted many family gatherings and their annual choir picnic for 25 years, featuring his special barbequed chicken.

After having the privilege of serving his patients for 42 years, Lew retired in 2010. He and Joan moved to Scarborough, where he loved spending time with his family and attending his two granddaughters’ many school, sporting and skating events. He volunteered at the Biddeford Free Clinic, Portland Community Free Clinic, Preble Street Kitchen and Long Creek Youth Development Center for 10 years. He was an active member of St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Cape Elizabeth involved with choir, buildings and grounds and organ committee. He and Joan also enjoyed traveling to Europe and China, visiting cousins in England and family trips to Italy and Hawaii. After a series of medical issues, they moved to the retirement community of Piper Shores in 2024 where they continued to make new friends, learn, and enjoy life by the ocean.

He is survived by his wife, Joan; daughters Diane (Chris) Brooke of Orlando, Fla. and Donna Saxby (Roger Teachout) of Scarborough; granddaughters Sienna and Serena Teachout of Scarborough, step-grandson, Spencer Teachout of Dover, N.H.; brother, Dean (Kathy) Leech of Vineland, N.J. and sister, Carole (Ron) Gingerich of Boise, Idaho.

He was predeceased by his parents; in-laws; brother, Barry; and son-in-law, Steve Saxby.

Befitting his love of education, he donated his body to the Anatomical Donor Program at the University of New England College of Medicine.

A memorial service will be held at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Cape Elizabeth on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 11:30 a.m.

He requested that,

if so desired, gifts in his memory may be made to

St. Alban’s Episcopal Church

885 Shore Rd.

Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107;

St. John’s Episcopal Church

225 French St.

Bangor, ME 04401;

or the

Bangor or Scarborough Public Libraries