Phillip S. “Phill” Tomeny, 62, of Waterbury, passed away from complications due to non-Hodgkin lymphoma at the UVM Medical Center in Burlington on Sunday morning, July 19, 2015. Born in Syracuse, New York, on September 11, 1952, he was the son of the late Raymond and Bertha (Distin) Tomeny. On September 7, 1985, he married the former Patti Wing in Waterbury.
Phill was a graduate of Liverpool (NY) High School and then continued his education at SUNY-Binghamton and graduated with his degree in environmental biology from Johnson State College.
Phill was the tale of two men. His everyday vocation was co-owner with his wife, Patti, of their Waterbury-based upholstery business known as All Seams Fine. His favorite vocation was being a musician and bandleader. From the age of 9 Phill played the guitar and throughout his years dreamed of having his own rock and roll band. At the age of 50 that dream came true with the founding of the Phill’n the Blanks band. Well known locally and regionally, Phill and his bandmates, which included his wife, Patti, along with Joey Provost and Jimmy Carter, played a variety of venues that culminated with recording a CD with up-and-coming songstress and Vermont native Keeghan Nolan in Nashville. In addition, Phill truly enjoyed when his brother, Don, was able to come to Vermont and play with the band.
Phill’s other passions included collecting and working on vintage Saabs and Corvettes, spending time on his boat and snorkeling and for over five years playing the role as the Harwood Union High School hockey mascot, “The Highlander.” Known for his keen wit and sense of humor, Phill was loved and admired by his family, who was so important to him. In 2000, Phill donated a kidney to his sister, Barbara.
Phill is survived by his wife of 30 years, Patti Tomeny of Waterbury; his children, Jeanie Tomeny of Essex Jct., Hannah Morse and her husband Shaun of Duxbury, Erik Griffin and his wife Carrie of Waterbury Center, and Hannah Tomeny of Williamstown; six grandchildren, Taylor Griffin, Ivan Morse, Isabelle Morse, Clara Griffin, Blair Griffin, Kenneth Richardson; a sister, Barbara Ludlow and her husband Stephen of Liverpool, New York; a brother, Donald Tomeny and his wife Leslie of Rochester, New York; as well as nieces, nephews and extended family. A niece, Michelle Ludlow, predeceased Phill.
Friends and family are invited for a time of visitation and remembrance at the Blush Hill Country Club in Waterbury on Saturday, July 25, 2015, from 2 to 4 p.m. with a final gig and jam session with his band and friends to follow. For those who wish, memorial gifts would be appreciated to the Phillip Tomeny Music Scholarship at Harwood Union High School. (Please make checks payable to Harwood Union High School, reference Phillip Tomeny Music Scholarship, 458 Vermont Route 100, South Duxbury, VT 05660, c/o Wendy Gilbert.) Assisting the family is Perkins-Parker Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Waterbury. To send online condolences visit www.perkinsparker.com.
