Camden Catholic is saddened to report the passing of longtime faculty member and guidance counselor Mr. John "Jack" Phipps. Jack began his tenure at CCHS in December of 1963, originally as a member of the math faculty, he then, as he said, “spent the best 53 years of my life there”. Jack retired in June 2016 and was inducted into the Camden Catholic Hall of Fame in 2022.
During his fifty-three years Jack wore a number of different hats while serving the Camden Catholic Community: math teacher, math department chairperson, National Honor Society Moderator, Junior Class Moderator, Master Schedule Creator, Teacher and Student Scheduler, P.S.A.T. Coordinator, S.S.D. Coordinator, Freshmen boys Basketball Coach, Freshmen Boys Assistant Football Coach, Assistant Wrestling Coach, and Guidance Counselor Extraordinaire! And while doing this he also took graduate courses at Rutgers, Rowan, and Temple. Among his special memories of his time at Camden Catholic is when on April 30, 1995 he was named an honorary alumnus of Camden Catholic High School, the school that became his second family.
Upon his retirement in 2016, President Emeritus, Msgr. Andrew Martin, remarked “I have admired Jack Phipps since the first day I met him in July of 1984. His love for and pride in Camden Catholic High School was so obvious to me that day. During the next twenty-six years as principal and president of Camden Catholic High School I frequently sought his advice because I knew his perspective was always focused on what would be best for the students. In the teaching vocation I believe there is no one more valuable than an advocate for the student. That is Jack Phipps! Camden Catholic will hire another guidance counselor, we will never have another Jack Phipps.” Following retirement, Jack continued to be a presence at many Camden Catholic athletic events with his son and grandchildren.
Mr. Phipps is one of Camden Catholic’s most legendary faculty members who has been a trusted friend to thousands of students during his time at Camden Catholic. A friendly face, a welcoming presence, a gifted teacher and counselor, Mr. Phipps will be missed by his colleagues and the many alumni who came to call him a friend. However, his influence will live on through all whom he has worked with and guided over these many years.
We send our love and prayers to the entire Phipps family, Jack's wife Pat '64, their children Jacqueline '86 and Ed, John '89 and Karen, and grandchildren John, Emma and Kirsten.