Obituary of Philip Howard Page

Philip “Phil” Howard Page of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, died unexpectedly Monday, December 23, 2024. Phil was born on August 17, 1967 in Johnson City, New York, to Howard Loomis Page and Carol Annetta (Wharton) Page.

In 1979 the family moved to Charlotte, North Carolina. Phil received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in May of 1989. He was honored with the Andrew McNally IV Award for Excellence in Geography. In 1996, Phil earned his Master of Arts degree in Geography, also from UNC.

Phil spent his entire career studying, applying, and teaching geography, focusing on geographic information systems and science as well as spatial data development and analysis. His work as a geographer took him from the Triangle area to such far-flung locations as Thailand, Latvia, Hawaii and Ecuador. Phil started his career as GIS coordinator for the NC Office of State Property in Raleigh followed by a research assistant position in UNC-Chapel Hill's Department of Geography. His career then transitioned to the Carolina Population Center in Chapel Hill where he conducted research for several years as a spatial analyst followed by a position with the Research Triangle Institute in the Research Triangle Park as a GIS analyst. In the late 90s, Phil returned to UNC Geography as the department's systems manager and GIS analyst. Then in 2003, he became the Associate Director for Spatial Analysis Services at the Carolina Population Center. In 2006, Phil moved to Hawaii to work with the University of Hawaii's Pacific EMPRINTS program where he applied geographic information science and technologies to emergency management, preparedness and response training and operations in Hawaii and other Pacific islands. Most recently, Phil was Assistant Director of UNC's Center for Galapagos Studies, where he helped advance the center's science, education and outreach efforts in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. In addition to co-authoring many scholarly research articles and book chapters, Phil co-authored the book Global Positioning System - A Field Guide for the Social Sciences, and he was a co-editor for the book Land Cover and Land Use Change on Islands - Social and Ecological Threats to Sustainability. Throughout his career, Phil taught courses related to GIS data, analysis and applications to students at UNC.

Phil took great pride in his home in Chapel Hill, making numerous improvements over the years. One motivation for that was the joy he took in hosting family and friends at his home. Phil thoroughly enjoyed his neighbors and contributing to the neighborhood, including running the neighborhood listserv and organizing the Little Ridgefield Neighborhood Conservation District. Rescued basset hounds were a fixture in Phil’s home.

Phil loved to travel, including trips to Portugal, Spain, Japan, and several national parks in the western U.S., as well as to the North Carolina mountains and shore. After annual family Christmas gatherings, Phil would head off to a New Year’s get-together with friends from his college days. Phil was an avid Tarheels fan and attended games whenever the opportunity arose.

Phil leaves behind his brothers Stephen Page of Syracuse, New York and Scott Page of Austin, Texas, Scott’s wife Kazuko Maeda, and their children Lloyd, Lionel, and Linette.

He was preceded in death by his father, Howard Loomis Page, who died July 19, 2015 and his mother, Carol Wharton Page, who died February 24, 2021.

The family of Phil Page will pay their final respects and receive guests at a visitation service on Friday January 3, 2025 from 3:00pm to 5:00pm at Walker's Funeral Home-Chapel Hill, 11680 US 15-501 North, Chapel Hill, NC 27517. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to a charity that you feel Phil would appreciate.