Tifereth Israel Congregants Gather Ahead of Funeral to Mourn Volunteer Extraordinaire Phil Lorang

By Donald H. Harrison

SAN DIEGO —  Phil Lorang, who died on a Hawaiian vacation last week after falling down a flight of stairs, was an extraordinary volunteer whose beneficiaries included Tifereth Israel Synagogue, Jewish Family Service, an immigrant family from Uganda, an Israeli student desiring to learn English via Internet, and a pair of shinshinim (Israeli high school graduates who spend a year abroad as young ambassadors for  Israel prior to enlistment in the IDF.)

Formal funeral services will be held Monday at 1 p.m. at El Camino Memorial Park. More than 100 people gathered informally Sunday in the social hall of Tifereth Israel Synagogue to share their memories for more than an hour. Here’s a partial summary of what was said about Phil in a session moderated by Rabbi Hanan Leberman, who described him as “a role model of kindness and chesed.”

Tifereth Israel Synagogue:  He attended minyan almost every morning, davening flawlessly, and he often led the minyan’s prayers.  He also chanted Haftorah on some Saturday mornings, precisely pronouncing the Hebrew.  A convert to Judaism, whose bar mitzvah was at age 31, Phil was more knowledgeable than many born Jews about his adopted religion. He utilized that deep knowledge to tutor other Jews by choice.

A graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) whose career took him to an administrative position with the federal Environmental Protection Agency, Phil often tackled building and maintenance projects in and around the Conservative synagogue. Some of these projects included clearing vegetation on Tommy Drive and Cowles Mountain Boulevard; construction of the synagogue’s sukkah; laying out an artisans showcase; and reconfiguring the benches in the sanctuary, which allowed more room for book holders at the back of those benches. During COVID, he built a portable Aron Kodesh for outdoor services.

Phil was a past president of the Tifereth Israel Synagogue Men’s Club.  Even after he stepped down from that position, he took care of the club’s administrative details, most often in a few hours after the need became apparent. He also worked with the congregation’s Shabbat lunch committee, one time on short notice hard boiling and peeling 60 eggs.

He and his late wife, Ellen, were a team.  Ellen took charge of the synagogue’s library, and during COVID, they boxed up thousands of books, brought them to their home in Tierrasanta, and computerized and labeled each one.

Jewish Family Service: Phil and Ellen, delivered meals to shut-ins.  He continued meal delivery even after Ellen’s death. One recipient of meals, whose husband recently died, said once a week Phil would spend two hours talking with her husband and providing a time window for her to shop for groceries. He also put his talents to use in JFS’s Fix-It program, in which minor repairs are made on the homes of the elderly or infirm.  He was a favorite of the clients he served, some of them requesting that he and only he do the repairs.

Community: His generosity extended to his friends.  When one woman was sidelined with spinal fusion surgery, Phil took care of her house and Ellen accompanied her to every appointment. He subscribed to local theatre and music venues, purchasing two tickets – one for him and one which he donated to a series of guests.  He was a regular blood donor and the Blood Mobile was stationed outside the synagogue so mourners could contribute to saving lives.

Shinshinim: Phil consecutively hosted two Israeli boys who had just graduated high school.  They paid tribute to him as their San Diego father, with whom they not only lived but also shared many Shabbat dinners.

Immigrants:  A family from Uganda showed up to express condolences.  Since immigrating to the United States two years ago, Phil’s help sustained them as they tried to get their bearings and find their place in a new country.

Family:  Many members of Phil’s family attended the Sunday memorial session.  His sister, Jeanne, commented “It means so much to me and my siblings and I think his kids to hear this and to know how valued he was.  We valued him but we valued him more as a brother.  And you guys were also his family.  And, by the way, he and Ellen both were completely incapable of sitting down and relaxing for an hour.  It just wasn’t in their makeup at all.  They had to be doing.”

Besides his sister Jeanne,  Phil leaves his siblings Marge, Rod, and Ellene, and his children David (Natalia); Noah (Sarah), Janet, and Amy.  Shiva on Tuesday and Wednesday will be held at the synagogue at 7:45 a.m. during morning minyan.

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Donald H. Harrison is publisher and editor of San Diego Jewish World.