PLEASE NOTE: The Benincasa family is postponing Friday's visiting hours in abundance of caution for the public during this time. There will be a public memorial organized at a future date to give everyone the opportunity to honor and celebrate Phil's life. Philip Herald Benincasa of Concord, MA born 4/16/43 died March 9, 2020 in Lexington, MA at the age of 76. Born and raised in Patchogue, NY he graduated from Patchogue High School in 1961 where he was a multi-sport letterman. While growing up on Long Island, he developed two of the passions in his life. The first, and perhaps most significant, was the love of the water. Phil spent countless hours enjoying the beach, the Great South Bay and the life living in a small beach town provides. Boating, crabbing and exploring the waters around Patchogue with his cousins, were the good times in his childhood. The second passion of his life was a love of sports. While playing basketball and baseball were activities he enjoyed, he also rooted intensely for the local pro sports teams. A died in the wool Yankees and Giants fan in childhood, he embraced the Jets and Mets later in life. Those teams would be replaced as life took him in another rooting direction. He later attended State University of New York, New Paltz under a full Regents Scholarship and earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education in 1965. While attending SUNY New Paltz he met Jacqueline Perez, the women he would marry and with whom he would spend the rest of his life. Married in 1965, together they had 3 children. Norah, Chris and Jeff. He received a Masters degree in Education Administration from Colombia University in 1967. Phil served as a principal for 3 years in Maryland before the opportunity of a lifetime would bring him and the family north. It was in 1973 that Philip and his family would eventually find their slice of heaven in America. They moved to Concord, MA where Philip took the role of principal of the Ripley Elementary School until its closing and moved to the Louisa Mae Alcott Elementary school where he would complete his career. Phil loved the town of Concord. From the moment he arrived he was taken aback by the generosity and love the town extended to him and his family. He was proud to say he was a resident and member of the community. It was that love which inspired him to dedicate his entire life to the children of the town and to ensuring all residents received the same generosity and love he and his family received. Whether serving the community in the school system, or advocating for the protection of its natural beauty, Concord became the Raison d'être for the entire Benincasa family. It was in Concord that Phil's two passions found new outlets, but never diminished. An avid boater, Philip and his family could be seen enjoying the three rivers in Concord by powerboat and canoe. Additionally Philip's yankee sensibilities allowed him to find and rebuild a sailboat which the family enjoyed for years on White's pond. Later in life, family vacations on Squam Lake in New Hampshire proved to be some of the most enjoyable family time he could ask for. It also comes as no shock that Philip embraced the 'olde towne' teams. It was in 1975 and 1978 that a die hard passion for the Red Sox took hold in the Benincasa family. Phil was a avid supporter of the USFL and the Boston Breakers and also developed an undying love of the New England Patriots, though he could be heard to claim Grogan and Eason were on the "take" in moments of passion. The last two decades of Philip's life were blessed with some of the most enjoyable sports memories for which anyone could wish. The Sundays spent with family, watching the Patriots games where what kept him going during chemotherapy treatments while battling cancer. Following his retirement from educations system in Concord, Philip continued to dedicate himself to the town by running for and being elected a town selectmen. He also worked on the school committee helping to ensure the town stayed committed to excellent schools and educational diversity. He leaves behind his beloved wife for 55 years, Jacqueline (Perez) Benincasa, three children, Norah Benincasa and her husband Nick Grigorieff, Philip Chris Benincasa and his wife Andrea Petro, and Jeffrey Benincasa and his wife Amy, his grandchildren, Jessica Lasorsa, Jarred Lasorsa, Catherine Benincasa, Devin Benincasa, Dominique Petro, Jaclynn Lasorsa, Natalie Grigorieff, Eva Benincasa, and Nicholas Grigorieff. He was also the grandfather of the late Jacob Lasorsa. Phil will be buried during a private service at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery on Saturday, March 14th. The family kindly requests that, in lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to create a public memorial in Concord to celebrate Phil's life. Donate here Arrangements are under the care of Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.