After a brave battle against cancer Phil Mages passed away in the early morning of Thursday October 13, 2016.
Phil was a respected colleague and wonderful human being. He was held in high regard by all of his colleagues at Materials Design, Inc. Phil was the Sales Manager for Academic Accounts in the US. He was well-liked by his customers because he was knowledgeable and treated everyone with so much respect.
Phil’s formal education included a Bachelor’s degree in Physics and in Philosophy from the University of Notre Dame, where Phil also learned to fence at the NCAA level. He later earned a Ph.D. in Materials Science, with a focus on electronic materials, from the University of California at San Diego.
Prior to joining Materials Design, Inc., Phil held positions as a researcher, research consultant and educator at the University of California, SAIC, BAE systems, and DARPA. Phil particularly enjoyed working on the problem of integrating photonic materials with silicon, especially where it allowed him to get back to his roots doing crystal growth.
Phil also spent four years teaching high school Physics, Chemistry, and Math, mostly in the impoverished Washington DC Public Schools. Often crediting this time as the most satisfying and challenging years of his career, he developed a deep respect for teachers and especially for students in such challenging districts.
Outside of work, Phil enjoyed surfing, playing soccer and sometimes even refereeing soccer matches, and teaching his two daughters to ski. He was also involved in science education projects outside the classroom.
Our love and prayers go to his wife, Danielle, and their beautiful young daughters, Annelise and Kit. Phil was just 41.
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