One of Father Philip’s most frequently used quotes, “Every successful undertaking is a triumph of enthusiasm,” from Humphrey Dary, an English chemist and poet of the 1700’s captures the spirit and commitment of his vocation to the Church as priest and educator. It is no surprise that the words of one Renaissance man should resonate with another. Father Philip’s enthusiasm for and expertise in a wide range of areas stems from both his early family life and his education.
Born in 1935 to Karl and Anna Eichner, young Philip learned early on to be creative with whatever materials were available. Mending, adapting, nurturing, and making do are traits that Father Philip has carried with him in all his subsequent endeavors. After graduating from Chaminade High School in Mineola, Father Philip entered the Marianist novitiate. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Dayton. His first teaching assignment sent him to St. Joseph’s High School in Cleveland. After three years, he attended the Marianist International Seminary in Fribourg, Switzerland, and received his graduate degree in theology from the University of Fribourg prior to his ordination in 1966.
In 1967, he became superior of the Marianist Community and President of Chaminade High School, a position he held for twenty-five years. Under his guidance, Chaminade experienced tremendous growth in both the physical plant and student enrollment while developing a national reputation for academic excellence and fostering vocations to the Church. During rather unstable times, he provided solid leadership and sound wisdom which he often-times attributes to knowing history. In 1987, the Marianists agreed to assume responsibilities for Kellenberg Memorial High School. Father Philip has served as president of Kellenberg since its founding including five years when served as the chief administrator of both schools. In its twenty-two year history, Kellenberg Memorial has developed a strong academic reputation as a coeducational institution of 2,500 students in grades 6-12. His role as chief administrator recently expanded to include a local Catholic elementary school, St. Martin de Porres Marianist School in Uniondale. His expertise in building and renovation has also been used to oversee the expansion and development of Founder’s Hollow, the Marianist Retreat House in Upstate New York. Father Philip has demonstrated through his leadership and management skills that high-quality Catholic education can thrive in today’s environment.
For the thousands of young men and women who have been in one of his Religion, English or Latin classes, Father Philip is not known primarily for his skill as an administrator. For them, he is the man whose enthusiasm for knowledge swept them up like a tidal wave. He is the man whose encyclopedic mind shows the connection of class material to a host of other things because, as he so often says, “being is multiple and superabundant.” No matter what the course title, Father Philip’s students receive life lessons and cannot help but to be caught up in his enthusiasm and love of language.
To the community at large, Father Philip is the man who is not afraid to take on controversy. In 1980, Father Philip’s determination to honor the intentions of Brother Joseph Fox, a much loved elderly Marianist, led to ground-breaking legislation on end-of-life concerns. New York State’s Health Care Proxy legislation is a direct result of Father Philip’s efforts. Father Philip once again found himself in the headlines in October of 2005 when Kellenberg Memorial cancelled its Senior Prom citing the event as an informal social institution that had a life of its own beyond the realm of the school. Father Philip has been active in the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights since its beginnings and has been a member of the Board and Chairman since 1997. On Long Island he has been a member of the LICADD (Long Island Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence) Board of Directors since 1997, promoting its work particularly among adolescents who are trapped in drug and alcohol dependency.
Throughout a long and distinguished ministry as a priest, educator and administrator, Father Philip has continued those lessons learned long ago – he has mended, adapted, nurtured and helped things grow. Whether it is his “green thumb” or “Midas Touch,” one thing is for sure, each of his “successful undertakings” has been “a triumph of his enthusiasm.”
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