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880 Hopmeadow Street
P.O. Box 335
Simsbury, CT 06070
Phone: 860-658-7613
Fax: 860-651-0476
About An Amazing Life|Help

Philip Matheson
Janes

December 31, 1939 – September 22, 2018

Philip Janes
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Remembering Uncle Philip

Philip Janes was like a brother to my dad Steve, so even though he and I are technically “first cousins once removed” he was always “Uncle Philip” to me. I can remember trips to New England as a youngster to visit family, and being fascinated by the art gallery. You could get lost – literally and figuratively – among all those paintings nailed up high and stacked thick against the walls. One time when I was very small, Philip visited our home in Cincinnati and he rearranged the furniture in our living room. Somehow I always remembered how exciting that was and wanted him to come back again and do a refresh using his creative eye and vision.

Philip was one of the silliest, craziest, most off the wall people I knew. I mean he was really a complete goofball. When he and my dad got together, there was no stopping the joking around. Philip would tell me about watching The Three Stooges with my dad as young lads and them laughing their heads off. I wish I could have seen them back then. Philip was one person that could really bring out the silly side in my dad.

When I was in college in Massachusetts, I did a road trip down to Hartford to see Philip “conduct” the symphony. He was so proud of that experience. For practice, he would stand on a chair in his gallery and show off his conducting routine to a taped version of the song. He had admiration for the musicians and their dedication to their artistry. Philip was a great promoter of the arts and the creative process. He even had ballet dancers perform in his gallery once, demonstrating how multiple manifestations of art and creativity could support each other and meld into one.

Philip never once forgot a birthday card for me or for my son Jack, who is now 4. Birthdays were also always accompanied by a phone call (or voicemail) with his rendition of the happy birthday song. He always sent a gift at Christmas, usually books – although sometimes he delighted Jack with a stuffed animal or a car. I look around at all those gifts in my house, as well as all the artwork from the gallery, and I can’t believe Philip is no longer a phone call away. I regret that I never had a chance to introduce Jack to him. My 2nd son Dexter was born just two months before his passing. Philip always wanted to hear about them and couldn’t wait to meet them both.

My dear Uncle Philip, I miss our phone calls so much. I’m sad that I can’t tell you about my children growing up. I wanted to take them to your gallery and hear you make them laugh. I wanted to send you the finest examples of their Crayola Art.  I wanted them to hear your stories about the Peace Corps and traveling the world. I really, really miss you. I hope you are content and at peace, forever with a twinkle in your eye.

Your loving family,

Kirstin Thomas with Matt, Jack and Dexter Smith

Posted by Kirstin Thomas
Tuesday October 23, 2018 at 9:12 am
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