Habitat DC-NOVA has the immense honor and the privilege of upholding the legacy of Phil Savarie, who passed in the summer of 2023. Through the Phil’s House campaign envisioned and spearheaded by his wife Sarah Savarie, a community of Phil’s friends, family, and colleagues are fundraising $100,000 to build a Habitat home in Phil’s name as part of our Glebe View townhomes development. Support Phil’s House by making a donation!
Phi’s family and friends have shared messages with us about Phil and his lasting impact on their life and community.
I have lived two doors down from Phil and his wonderful family for over ten years. Phil was a generous person, always putting others first. He would go out of his way to help his neighbors and friends. Outgoing and funny, Phil loved to throw a party. He and I shared an interest in classic cars, which he was always happy to discuss. Most of all, Phil was a builder, by profession and by passion. At work, he built magnificent buildings. At home, he built a stronger community, rooted in caring for neighbors. I can’t think of a more appropriate tribute to Phil Savarie’s life than the construction of Phil’s House, a house that will change the lives of people who Phil never met.
Will, Phil and Sarah’s neighbor and friend
“Phil was a builder!! Both literally and figuratively. Whether it was coaching a soccer team or a community event or a fundraiser. Phil wasn’t just a one and one done type of person. He was always thinking about building something to last whether it be a house or our community. He started coaching his daughter’s soccoer team when his daugther Bea was in kindergarten. He coached and supported that team for 10 years until high school!
He donated time, his truck, and the storage space for the Big Flea at the Mount Vernon Community School for years. Adding to that, he created the Mount Vernon Community School Pumpkin Patch. He created Bingo night at MVCS. He created the Flocking program. He created these events and activities in his community that continue on today. Like a house…he built things to last for his community. Not sure that this short list even does Phil justice.
When you talk about someone who was a part of the community…Phil was the definition of community! He was remarkable in every way. We miss him but the things he did and the sense of his presence continues to live on! Phil, we miss you but you are still with us!!”
Art, Phil’s dear friend
My favorite Phil Savarie memory is from the day I first met him, May 30, 2000. I remember the date because it is the day I moved into my new house on East Luray Avenue, three houses up from Phil.
The movers couldn’t get the box spring of my queen mattress up the stairs so they put my bed in the garage. I was sitting in my new empty living room feeling sorry for myself when there was a knock on my door, and there was Phil, along with Joe, my next door neighbor and Phil’s best friend. “Welcome to East Luray!” they said.
I told them I would be sleeping in the garage, and Phil looked at Joe. Within an hour, the two of them had sawed my boxspring in half, taken each half upstairs, hammered it back together, and put together my bed. In that moment, I knew I had found my forever home.
Helene, Phil and Sarah’s neighbor and friend
Thanks to Phil’s kindness and concern, a horrible situation for us became a wonderful memory that we will always cherish. Many years ago when we had 2 young boys and were renovating our house, we ended up with a very unscrupulous contractor who ultimately abandoned our job and left us with a partially renovated house open to the elements (including an onslaught of 17-year cicadas and multiple nesting birds and wasps). To say that our house was a complete disaster and that I was stressed beyond belief is an understatement. No other contractor was willing to take over and complete our job. Phil, in his calm manner and soothing voice, told us that he felt certain that his contractor would be able to help us. And true to his word, Phil’s contractor did help us! They were able to complete our job after removing and re-doing the prior contractor’s poor workmanship. The most amazing part of this story, which truly exemplifies Phil’s kind and generous nature, is that his and Sarah’s house was currently being renovated by this wonderful man. Yet, Phil and Sarah let us “borrow” him and his subs to complete the remainder of our job before their job was finished. I will never forget this kindness.
Anne, Sarah’s college roommate and long-term friend
A video from Phil’s colleagues at Gould Property Company
Phil seemed to know how to fix anything. He was the person you called for help when you had a hole in your screen that you didn’t know how to begin fixing, or when your rear view mirror fell off you your car’s front window. (Both real times I called Phil) Now there was a price for Phil’s help, he never just fixed something, he made sure you learned how to fix it so you could do it yourself the next time. That and it usually involved lots of good conversation and a meal of some sort.
My message to the families who purchase a Glebe View Townhome, learn everything about your house and roll up your sleeves and paint, renovate and repair, it will give you immense satisfaction to know you fixed it your self. And play some John Denver, always makes a house feel like a home.
Margaret, Phil and Sarah’s long-time friend
Phil Savarie was the Mayor of our street. Every morning, when I walked to my car to go to work, Phil would yell “Hello” from his porch where he’d start the day, sitting in his favorite chair and watching the morning rise. His “hello” was usually, a teasing joke, a cautionary tale about guinea pigs and dogs, or a view of world happenings that he had to share. I miss those moments more than I can say. We miss our Mayor, but know he’s sending us all good vibes from heaven.
