Phil Avillo moved to York, PA, in 1975, when he received an appointment to the faculty at York College and where he continues today to teach American history and Civil War courses. In 1968, he married Linda, a former Navy nurse. They have three children, Andrew, Stephen, and Susan, and three grandchildren.
Phil, who enlisted in the US Marines at age 17, served as a Marine officer from 1964-66, including a tour in Vietnam where he was awarded the Purple Heart for a wound which resulted in the amputation of his left leg above the knee. After the Marines, he obtained a Ph.D. in history from the University of Arizona.
Soon after arriving in York he became active in the York community. He was elected for three terms to the York Suburban School Board, serving 7 of them as President. For over two decades he coached his community's young people in baseball, basketball, and soccer and the men's lacrosse teams at the Univ. of Arizona and York College. He has also served on the Boards of the York Symphony (Vice President) and the York Suburban Dollars for Scholars program. At York College he has been President of the Academic Senate, was twice selected by students to deliver the Winter Commencement address, was twice named Teacher of the Year by the Student Senate, and received the York College Alumni's Professional Service and Recognition Award.
