The town is mourning the loss of Pamela Philips, a beloved counselor who grievously passed away on August 16th. She left behind a legacy of empathy, dedication, and an unmatched impact on the Manchester community. 

Philips, a substance misuse counselor at Manchester High School, dedicated her entire professional career to helping people win their battles with substance misuse and mental health. In the Manchester Public School system, she provided counseling services to both middle and high school students. She was also the founder of MHS’ most successful club, Fighting Against Common Teen Substances (FACTS). Beyond her work in schools, she was a proud member of the town’s Change Collaborative where she furthered her philanthropic work in the entire Manchester community.

Sapphira Costa, a Senior at MHS, has been a proud member of FACTS club for her entire high school career. She shares, “she saw students beyond their struggles, beyond their poor decisions and mistakes, she saw their potential.” 

People outside of MHS show their gratitude to Philips on her Obituary Tribute Wall, proving her impact touched many lives across the greater Manchester area. 

A past patient of Philips shares, 

“Pam was working at M.M.H. when I first met her. I was a patient in her ward. She was kind. She was also understanding.”

Another further explains her empathy by writing, 

“I was a member of Pam and Bill’s home group meetings for quite some time and she was a wonderful friend and huge support when I was struggling. She gathered members of the group to help me move from Vernon to South Windsor back in 2012. Pam had a heart of Gold!” 

From students to past patients, Philips left an undeniable mark on many people’s lives. Her impact on the Manchester community will live on through FACTS club and people’s unforgettable memories of her.