Winfred M. Phillips, D.Sc.

Win Phillips, a longtime UF leader known for his depth of knowledge of the university, versatility and thoughtful advice to the many people who sought it, died Saturday. He was 83.

The cause was cardiac arrest, said his son, Stephen Phillips.

Phillips, who arrived at UF in 1988 as dean of engineering, served in several different leadership positions before retiring in June. He was highly regarded for his proficiency as a generalist, able to take the reins and push forward whatever he was overseeing, while always focusing on the greater UF and its rise as a top public university.

“Win had a saying that he shared with many people over the years when they sought out his counsel for big decisions: As long as you always do what’s best for the university, you can’t go wrong,” said Mori Hosseini, UF Board of Trustees chair. “That was Win — he was selfless, always willing to step in and fill whatever role he was needed in, and always willing to do what was best for the university. He was pivotal in making UF the great institution it is today… Continue reading.