Noe Valley Voice December-January 2010
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In Memory of Phillip Wald

Phillip L. Wald, born May 22, 1935, died peacefully in his home on Noe Street on Oct. 15, 2010. Phillip had a reputation of coming across as a bit frank, sometimes brusque and always opinionated. But if a person took the time to scratch Phillip’s rough exterior, they found a challenging, witty, and generous person.

Some called him a colorful Noe Valley character. For example, his house was painted a remarkably happy lavender and its flower boxes were overflowing year-round. For years, you may have seen him driving around the neighborhood in a yellow VW bug with a happy face painted on the front. When Phillip took you out in that car, it felt like you were in a parade with children and adults waving, pointing, and smiling.

Phillip came from Louisville, Kentucky. After a stint in the Air Force he spent time in Washington, D.C., and coastal Florida, before landing in Noe Valley, where he lived for 32 years. He is survived by his loving partner, David Barker, and many dear friends.

If you want to do something in his memory, he would tell you to speak your mind. And if you want to donate to a good cause, he would propose giving time and/or money to a local gay youth group.

—Mary Margaret