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\u201cThis is a seismic shock to the community. He might be one of the greatest human beings I\u2019ve ever met,\u201d said Zac Kraft, Lancaster Country Day\u2019s athletic director, praising the way Phipps welcomed students with warmth and humor every morning.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was hilarious. He had many ‘Jimmy-isms’ to greet kids,\u201d Kraft said, adding that he loved to watch students\u2019 facial expressions when Phipps would ask them for money. \u201cYou owe me $5,\u201d Kraft recalled Phipps joking. \u201cWhere\u2019s my $5?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe outpouring of love for Jim and support for his family makes it clear just how much he touched the lives of countless students, colleagues and families,\u201d said Emilie Kosoff, Lancaster Country Day\u2019s head of school. \u201cJim invested deeply in others and was a keystone of the LCDS community for decades.\u201d<\/p>\n
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In this May 2015 file photo, Lancaster Country Day’s Sebastian Pena and Drew Kopan posed with tennis coach Jim Phipps after they finished fourth in the PIAA doubles tournament.<\/p>\n
LNP FILE PHOTO<\/p>\n
Michael Schmelder, a former Lancaster Country Day information technology director, treasured the way Phipps kept in contact.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t really have a lot of people in my life,\u201d Schmelder said. \u201cHe would always reach out and say, \u2018Hey, I\u2019m thinking about you.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Huge onstage presence<\/p>\n
Beky Weidner, who teaches art at Lancaster Country Day, first met Phipps a decade ago, but became closer when the two shared bus duty two years ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was just so full of life,\u201d she said. \u201cHe would always have time for kids and was just always there for them.\u201d Phipps\u2019s gratitude also impressed Weidner. \u201cEven when he was having these difficult health problems, Jim always talked about how grateful he was for so many things in his life.\u201d<\/p>\n
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This undated photo shows Jim Phipps, the Lancaster Country Day tennis coach and teacher who died Sunday, performing as Jimmy Blue. He was the frontman and harmonica player with the band Jimmy Blue and the Jilted Playboys.<\/p>\n
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Weidner introduced Phipps to her husband, Larry Penner, a keyboard player who joined Phipps\u2019s band, Jimmy Blue and the Jilted Playboys.<\/p>\n
\u201cJim was one of those people who had boundless energy and enthusiasm for music,\u201d Penner said. \u201cHe had a way of making everybody feel welcome, and that was part of what made him such a great singer and performer. He just loved to get people excited and connected in a really sincere way.\u201d<\/p>\n
The band\u2019s bass guitarist, Alex Mazzucca, met Phipps about 2 1\/2 years ago through Mazzucca\u2019s then-4-year-old daughter, who introduced the gym teacher she adored during a school event.<\/p>\n
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Jim Phipps was named to the Black Tennis Hall of Fame in 2024.<\/p>\n
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\u201cHe was so approachable and friendly,\u201d Mazzucca recalled. \u201cHe just always conveyed gratitude, to us, and not only just the band, but when we would play live, everyone in the audience felt appreciated by him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Connor Stoehr, the band\u2019s drummer, called Phipps one of his best friends.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s the type of guy that (could) make everyone in the room his friend,\u201d Stoehr said. \u201cHe\u2019d often make little jokes about people in the audience, which they loved.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Art Lumsden, a Lancaster guitar player who is not a band member, met Jim 20 years ago through jamming sessions and Lumsden\u2019s son, who attended Lancaster Country Day.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was just bigger than life,\u201d Lumsden said of Phipps. \u201cHe was just so entertaining and hilarious onstage.\u201d<\/p>\n
The guitarist recalled traveling to Chicago with Phipps about 15 years ago for what the tennis coach called his blues pilgrimage. The musicians spent about four nights playing at different jazz clubs.<\/p>\n
\u201cJim knew everyone,\u201d Lumsden said of Chicago musicians and club owners.<\/p>\n
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