Phil had no fear and would be friends with anybody! He loved us all and we loved him back.
Obituary
Philip Todd Gittens—beloved son and brother, devoted uncle, committed friend, bon vivant who never lost his appetite for the commonplace, lifelong learner, and international man of mystery—left this world far too soon, on April 13, 2025.
Born in Riverview Hospital on October 15, 1970, Philip attended St. Leo the Great elementary school and then Christian Brothers Academy before graduating from Holmdel High School in 1988. He was on the wrestling team for CBA and was in the drama club at HHS. He graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in bioenvironmental engineering in 1992 and furthered his education by completing an MBA at California State University–East Bay in 2001.
In 1992 he made a fateful decision that would forever shape the direction of his life. He joined the Peace Corps and set out for Ecuador. There his ostensible responsibilities were to plan and manage construction of water supply projects, but as his friends in the Peace Corps can attest, the job became far more than that. Cultural sensitivity, high-level people management skills, diplomatic finesse, determination, patience, and an aptitude for improvisation were also required. If you didn’t have these, you would need to develop them—quickly! What was also needed at this time of geographic remove from old friends and the familiar world were new friends to carry him through, and in finding that comfort, Phil excelled. “I’ve made friends here that should be for a lifetime. I will never have such a shared experience at any time for so long and so intensely. I can see I’ve changed much in 2 years. My perspective has been altered. It’s been 2 years of experimentation and of living completely by my own rules. I’m quite independent but I realize that I rely much on family and friends and I hope you’ll always be there for me, and I’ll try to do the same.”
And in this, Phil did not just try—he did! Throughout his many years of overseas assignments—in Azerbaijan, Ecuador, Cape Verde, Honduras, Myanmar, Panama, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Vietnam—Phil took the time and made every effort to remain in touch with his family and oldest friends, as well as to strengthen ties with the new friends he had gathered along the way. He wrote thoughtful letters and shared candidly before the internet was a thing, and with the rise of email, he carried his computer with him everywhere and continued to connect with others far away even as he shared the present moment with you.
Phil blazed like Halley’s Comet, streaking through our skies periodically as he recounted his adventures for us and recharged himself to begin a new orbit of exploration. Phil’s exuberance for exploring the world was unmatched and he wanted to share his findings with everyone. So, he would periodically send a group email telling of his latest sojourn or set up a slide show in the family living room when he came back “home.” Or he would cook a meal intended to recreate a dish he had had overseas. And, of course, there was always the ideal pairing with a particular wine.
Phil was frugal. He valued experiences over possessions, so he saved on everyday expenses to travel more frequently. He did not travel to places to just tick off an item from a list, but instead, he immersed himself in the history, culture, and rhythms of the countries he went to. He dove deep into Thailand and Vietnam, visiting them for extended periods and studying those languages in addition to his first foreign language, Spanish, and his native English.
His final professional stop was at the Bureau of Reclamation in Yuma, Arizona, where he worked on projects managing the Colorado River water basin. After all the years of international work, Phil embraced this return to the United States and enjoyed the organizational and financial certainties he experienced in these stateside projects. Even more than becoming known as a good engineer, Phil was valued for his well-developed soft skills of building teams and culture and was seen as the freest of free spirits.
Despite his work and these global travels, Phil remained a devoted presence in the lives of his nieces and nephews. To them, he could be both the goofy kid who never grew up, as well as the person who spoke to them as adults and treated them as grownups as they got older. He compiled life lessons and reflections into a treatise for them called “I Can Get Behind That: Guide to Living—Lessons of Uncle.”
Phil is survived by his mother, Joan; his sister Janine Popovich and her husband, John; his brother Jack Gittens and his wife Donna; his brother Colin Gittens and his wife, Maureen Donaghy; and his brother Tom Gittens and his wife Sunny. Phil’s father John passed away in 1990. Additional survivors are Ben (nephew) and wife Raizha Popovich and Casey (niece) and husband Ammar Alawna; Patrick Gittens (nephew) and fiancée Melanie Dombro and Brianna Gittens (niece) and partner Aidan Siegel; and nieces Teagan and Kenzie Gittens.
Phil Through The Ages
Videos
Memories, Stories, and Love
Phil shared stories about his family in New Jersey and friends scattered across the globe. It was clear that they were a source of motivation for him, always fueling his excitement for the next adventure. I will always cherish are our conversations and the unique spark he brought to our office.
Rest in peace, Phil. You will be deeply missed.
RO & M Inspections, made maps for him for reports and all in turn to always harass me for working from home and not be in the office all the time like he was.
He will be truly missed and never forgotten. It will be especially hard at Christmas this year as he and I were always the planners of our office holiday party and this year will have to be planned solo. R
I
P
Phil!
My introduction to Phil was perhaps an unusual one; it was not in person, but over a work teleconference call in February 2022. He accepted a difficult task of re-analyzing a problem that had long since been shelved, and doing so in a short time frame. My first direct interaction beyond just casual was also not in person – over the phone. Don’t recall the details exactly, but I remember that he was there for me when I needed to talk to someone. Over the next couple of years, I got to know Phil a little. We would often meet at one of his favorite spots for a drink or two and some grub. Last I saw Phil, he was in very good spirits, having had a nice morning bike ride and a “power” day at the office. He loved life and was often satisfied with simple things. That is something many of us can learn from – do the best you can but enjoy what you are doing, whatever it is.
If anyone could rock a neon yellow shirt from Thailand, a "found" red, white and blue cowboy hat, mirror reflective sunglasses and sandals, it was Phil.
It anyone could whip up a delicious meal from strange and curious ingredients that you weren't sure was safe to eat, it was Phil.
If anyone could be so fun and adventurous as to agree to meet you in Thebes, Greece without telling them where you were staying it was Phil.
If anyone could watch a movie one scene at a time, it was Phil. If anyone could appreciate great wine while dancing to music you've never heard of it was Phil.
If anyone thought that they could be a friend with anyone else it was Phil.
If anyone would do anything for a friend it was Phil.
Now I realize I didn't need a dictionary at all. The best word to describe Phil was right in front of me all along. It was the first word in his email address:
unforgettable
He was one of the most unique people I’ve ever known—incredibly intelligent, endlessly curious, and always, always up for a good time.
I’m going to miss you Felipe.
Service
