W. Philip Sawyer

Philip Sawyer (Phil) 76, was born to Life Eternal on Sunday morning June 22, 2025, while under the tender care of the Care Center at Friendship Village, Tempe, AZ and Hospice of the Valley. Phil was born in Racine, WI on June 5, 1949, to the late W. Paul Sawyer and Alice (Wilson) Sawyer. He was the oldest of four children in a loving Christian home.

Phil was a pioneer in the infancy of the computer field. He built an active robot named “Gizmo” for his eighth-grade science fair and took a class in Fortran in high school. At the Beloit College’s computer department, he wrote code and used keypunch cards tracking student attendance, finances and other campus data. After Beloit, he immediately went to work for Lawrence University doing a similar job. He moved to Harris Banks in Chicago. From there, he transitioned to Wang, which was then a leading company in the burgeoning personal computer field.

Having obtained his master’s degree from the University of Tulsa, Phil combined his vast computer knowledge with his deep interest in philanthropy, becoming a professional at the Red Cross.  He headed the computer department for the Salt River Project. He was a First Responder for volunteer field work at the Red Cross and was dispatched to some of our country’s disasters in times of need. His usefulness was noted, and he was recruited to work for the US government at FEMA.

Phil was a very active volunteer.  In addition to his work with the Red Cross, he developed, organized and ran the Bi-polar Bears, a group in the Phoenix area dedicated to individuals with bi-polar disorders. The club had weekly meetings discussing bi-polar and mental health issues, advocated for mental health legislation at both state and federal levels, published pamphlets and on-line information about Bi-polar Disorder and where to get assistance, and managed a ‘warm line’ for emergency calls. His work at the Salt River Project regenerated his childhood love of camping and interest in the environment.  He was very passionate about ecology and did all he could to promote good ecological citizenship.

Phil was a railroad enthusiast from an early age.  He had a large train layout in his childhood bedroom and made a replica of the Southshore railroad while living in his residence at Friendship Village.  He loved to recount how he would walk to the station where the Station Master allowed him to throw the switch making the crossing gates close to traffic when a train was approaching.  Phil also enjoyed traveling.  He visited all fifty states, including all the National Parks and journeyed to most of the European, Central American and Asian Countries.

Phil was preceded in death by his father, W. Paul Sawyer and mother, Alice H. Wilson Sawyer. He leaves two sisters, Judy Arndt (Jim) and Nancy Summers (Michael) and a brother, Jim Sawyer (Connie). He also leaves a niece Sara Summers Johnson (Jason) and a nephew Michael Summers. and two special grandnephews, Nolan and Zayne Johnson. A special friend, Coty Brown, should also be mentioned with gratitude and thanks.

Private family services will be held at Prairie Home Cemetery, Waukesha, Wi. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your local non-profit mental health association or the charity of your choice.

Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.