Phillip J. Kreis, Jr.

Phillip J. Kreis, Jr.
1934-2023

Phillip J. Kreis, Jr. of Sarasota, FL and formerly of Pittsburgh, PA and Longboat Key, FL passed away on December 18, 2023. Phillip (whose friends called him Phil or “Philby”) was born on June 29, 1934 in Union, NJ to Elizabeth Jahnke and Phillip J. Kreis, who worked as a butcher at the local A&P Supermarket. Phil was a talented golfer, winning tournaments in high school and paying for tournament entry fees by caddying at a local country club. Phil graduated from Bucknell University in 1956 where he majored in economics. At Bucknell, Phil met his first wife, Nancy Brayman, while playing golf when he reputedly hit an “errant” golf shot over to Nancy’s fairway and the rest was history. After he served in the U.S. Army, Phil and Nancy moved to the Pittsburgh area as he started his career in the bridge building business with Brayman Construction, where he worked his entire career ending as President and retired in 1992. Phil also served on the boards of Constructors Assoc. of Western PA and General Contractors Association of PA.

Phil had two children with Nancy, George and Phylliss, and, after losing her to Hodgkin’s Disease in 1966, married Virginia Nichols in 1968, and welcomed a third child, John. Phil and Virginia divorced in1980 and he married Bettie Daily in 1983. Phil and Bettie were married until 2004 when Bettie succumbed to cancer. His final love and long-time partner, Jane Perin, came into his life and they remained best friends and loving companions until Jane passed away in 2022. Phil established residency in Florida in 2010, after having spent winters on Longboat Key for many years. Phil and Jane loved to entertain as both were foodies and gourmet cooks.

An avid and accomplished golfer throughout his life, Phil was a member of Shannopin Country Club for 20 years, and was club champion twice in the mid-1960s. He was an international member of Loch Lomond in Scotland, and a member at Oakmont Country Club from 1977 to 2018. Over his golfing career, he had 6 holes in one and held a single digit handicap until he was well into his 70’s.

At the time of his death, Phil was living in Independent Living at Elance at Sarasota, where he enjoyed frequent visits with family.

Phil is survived by three children, George (Leanne) of Crownsville, MD; Phylliss Kreis Hill of Wellesley, MA and John (Caroline) of South Portland, ME; five grandchildren, Phillip, Katherine, Rey, Haven and Charlotte and one step-grandson, Graham. A Memorial Service and Celebration of Life will be held on January 27, 2024 at 10:30 AM at All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church on Longboat Key, FL. A live stream of the service will be available at http://www.revdavidmarshall.com/. The family welcomes donations in his memory to First Tee. https://firsttee.org/donate/