Colonel (RET USA) Philip St. Goar Threefoot died peacefully at his home in Little Silver, New Jersey on August 22. He was 84 and had valiantly battled cancer for 20 years. Phil was born on February 13, 1938 in Meridian, Mississippi to Frederick St. Goar and Claire Molitor Threefoot. The family moved to the San Francisco Bay area in the early 1940s.
Phil was educated by the Jesuits at Bellarmine Academy, San Jose, CA. Their approach to education impressed Phil, taught him discipline, and reinforced his family’s strong work ethic. After high school, Phil enrolled in the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, graduating 2nd in his class from the world’s toughest engineering curriculum.
His career in the US Army began with a three-year deployment to Germany, where he often remarked that he had never met a German beer that he didn’t like. Phil was an Army Ranger, and after two tours of duty in Viet Nam with the 101st Airborne, the Army sent him to Stanford University in California for his Master’s degree in Computer Science. Phil’s 32 years of service included: Field Artillery Basic Course, Infantry Officer’s Advanced Course, Command and General Staff College, Defense Systems Management College, and the Army War College. His career sent him to Germany, California, Vietnam, Kansas, Washington DC, and New Jersey, where he retired from service at Fort Monmouth and began a second career as a software engineer.
Philip was predeceased by his first wife, Marilyn Becker Threefoot. Phil is survived by his second wife, Janice Kennedy Threefoot, four wonderful children and six grandchildren, all of whom came to visit with him this summer: Mark (Sarah) Threefoot, Sunnyvale, CA; Lisa (Mark) Brocious, Dallas, GA; Matthew (Krista) Threefoot, Columbia, MD; and Jane Kennedy Threefoot, Melrose, MA; and his beloved collie, Sunny. The Grands: Christopher/Lily Brocious, Julie/John Threefoot, and Michelle/Norah Threefoot. Phil’s sister: Marsha (Mike) Jobst.
Phil loved God, country, family, cherished friends, and apple pie.
Visitation is September 2 from 4-7 pm at Thompson Memorial Home, Red Bank, NJ. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at The Church of the Nativity, Fair Haven, NJ on September 3 at 10:30 am. Colonel Philip St. Goar Threefoot will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors at a later date.
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