Obituary of Phillip Ernest Morawa

Phillip Ernest Morawa, 76, died at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center August 10, 2024, after a brief but devastating illness, with his wife Dorothy and her son, Bill, at his bedside. His body bravely fought the effects of a septic pneumonia and underlying MDS Syndrome. Phillip was born and brought up in New Britain, Conn., the only child of Ernest and Wilhelmina Embacher Morawa. Phillip graduated from Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Class of 1970. He worked at the Joseph Merritt Co. in Hartford, Conn. for over 30 years, managing their Surveying Equipment Dept. and teaching the craft.

Phillip and Dorothy were married and best friends for 31 years. It was Love at first sight at Sea Chanty night at the Griswold Inn in Essex, Conn. They later married there. They enjoyed sailing to Block Island for three weeks every August and at anchor in the Great Salt Pond.

After a brief retirement, Phillip took a Culinary Arts course. His last job was cooking at Pepe’s Cafe on Caroline Street in Key West. After 3+ years in Florida as live-aboards on their Pearson trawler, they returned to New England and found a small cottage in Winter Harbor. Phillip loved Winter Harbor and its people and often said "this is my last home."

Phillip is survived by his daughter, Morgan, of Dexter, N.Y., stepson Bill Kaehrle & wife Patty of West Hartford, Conn., step daughter Rosemary Kaehrle of Seattle, Wash., and 2 grand children: Allie Kaehrle of West Hartford, Conn. and Martin Kaehrle of Madison, Wis. He was predeceased by his parents - and grandparents, his brother in law Skip Lazorik in Connecticut, and mother-in-law Ann of Florida. Phillip is greatly missed by Mr. Mojo, the cat who adopted him.

A joint memorial service for Dorothy and Phillip will be held on Friday, June 20, 2025, at Molloy Funeral Home, 906 Farmington Ave., West Hartford, CT. Visitation will take place from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., followed by a non-denominational service at 11:00 a.m. A procession to St. Mary’s Cemetery in New Britain, CT, will follow.