Phil Wright told me, “When you retire and are no longer active mentally and physically as you were before, you need something meaningful to engage in. I thank Rotary Club of Honolulu member, Will Henderson, for inviting me in 2006 to join the club that still keeps me going at 90.”
How did you get all of those skills you put to work on our projects, I asked. “I started out building cabinets for Viking Trailer Company in the ‘50s. In those days, we used hand tools. For our Rotary projects, we still use hand tools.”
Raised in California, Phil’s educational focus turned from construction to medicine. Occidental College was step one. Then, Northwestern and Chicago Medical Schools, and UCLA. He spent years in the Navy’s medical corps at Subic Bay, Philippines, before he left the service to focus on his private medical practice. Phil had been a Rotarian in Los Angeles from 1974, until shifting his remarkable Pediatric Heart Surgery career experience to Hawaii to start the Heart Surgery Program for Kaiser Foundation in 1984. It was here he met his 2nd wife Anne, a nursing manager, and grew his family. And through it all, Phil was growing nuts.
In the 70’s, a classmate had encouraged Phil to buy in on a $5,000 deal to purchase a 13+ acre farm on Kauai near Princeville. Before moving his medical service to Hawaii, Phil often spent time coming over to plant macadamia nut trees on what he lovingly called his “escape country”. It was a beautiful place from which to stargaze. Over the years, his macadamias were shipped to the Big Island, and Mac Nut Farm thrived. Phil sold it in 2019. But he hasn’t given up his Rotary pin. “The opportunity for fellowship with those who are not in your line of work is gratifying. And so is the opportunity to make a difference. I am interested in astronomy…still love to stargaze. Maybe we can create an opportunity for the youth we serve at Camp Erdman to do that someday.”
Rotarians & Friends, Phil & Bub Wo
Phil giving his time and talents for our community!
Mahalo, Phil!