Philip James (Phil) Rosewarne passed away on Sunday, October 25^th, 2020, in Ann Arbor, of Lewy Body disease. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth (Betty) Schwartz; his children, Amy, Stephen, and Brian, and his former wife, Anne; and his stepchildren, Michael, Annie, and Ruthie; along with a long list of grandchildren, all of whom will miss him greatly. He was preceded in passing by his daughter, Katherine. 

Phil was born in 1935 In Grand Rapids Michigan and graduated from the University of Michigan with degrees in Engineering, Math, and Law. He practiced law at private firms prior to joining the State of Michigan Attorney General while raising his family. Later in his career, he met his wife, Betty, who was by his side caring for him until the end. He will be remembered for his warmth and humility, and his ability to see and appreciate the value in others.

As a boy, Phil developed a lifelong love for Michigan’s lakes, paddling the entire Antrim chain of lakes, and hitting the Lake Michigan beaches. As a young man, he was an avid sailor, and in retirement, he lived for much of the year on Lake Michigan with Betty, continuing to regularly take a running plunge into Lake Michigan until he could no longer do so. He was an outdoors enthusiast, once sleeping outside in a snowstorm to test a new sleeping bag; he skied, ice skated, biked, hiked, and “jogged” before anyone else did, always in ancient, patched together clothing and equipment that he said, “worked just fine.”  He played tennis his entire life, and to the end was fixated on his never-ending quest to improve his serve. Some in Ann Arbor may remember him roaming Bird Hills Park—at times on his bike at his own peril—which he was able to do until the last year of his life. 

Phil is loved and remembered as an American original. He had eccentric ways of doing everything, from dressing, to cooking, to “organizing” his things. His gentle, self-effacing sense of humor complemented his eccentricity: Instead of trying to change or explain himself, he just shrugged his shoulders and laughed. He was also open minded, and innately drawn to people who were different from himself, and loved prowling Ann Arbor for new acquaintances. Above all else, Phil was curious. Everyone he met was “fascinating.” He read, ruminated, and wanted to discuss his latest interests in great detail. He didn’t like leaving any conversation topic behind. It was impossible to bore him, and he was never boring. 

Phil offered the best of himself in the most open, simple ways. He loved and respected his family and friends, especially those who have struggled, for their own qualities, whatever they might be. In particular, he was devoted to Betty and was especially proud of her professional and artistic success. We will all miss his sweetness, his wit, and his light touch.