BRUNSWICK -- Philip Mason, 59, of Brunswick, died Sunday, Aug. 3, 2008, at his home, surrounded by his family.

He was born in Columbus, Ohio, on June 15, 1949, to John and Maryann (Franke) Mason.

In 1959 he moved to Rutherford, N.J., where he attended St. Mary's High School. He received a degree in civil engineering from Manhattan College. He served in the Army National Guard.

On Sept. 23, 1972, he married his high school sweetheart, Peggy Dunn. In 1973, they moved to Maine, living in Veazie and Winslow. In 1990, he and his family moved to Brunswick.

He worked as an engineer for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey as well as Cianbro Corporation. For the past 25 years, he was employed by Sappi Fine Paper North America, most recently as an IT area manager.

He expressed his deep faith through involvement at the local and deanery levels of the Catholic Church. He was a communicant of St. John the Baptist Church, Winslow, and St. Charles Borromeo Church, Brunswick. He served as Eucharist minister, Parish Council president, and chairman of the Finance Commission. For many years, he was a member of parochial school boards and taught religious education to teens. In addition, he served on the Diocesan Pastoral Council under Bishop Geary. He was appointed by Bishop Malone to the Diocesan Planning Committee and then elected as coordinator of the Cluster 15 Committee. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus for over 25 years. At St. Charles Lenten suppers, he was affectionately known as "Potato Man."

If only one phrase could describe him, it would be "a genuine and gentle man" -- sincerely interested in everyone he met. He was a true teacher and mentor, whether to his Boy Scout troop in Winslow or his co-workers at Sappi. Lending a helping hand was second nature to him. For over 20 summers, he volunteered at the New England Music Camp in Sidney, including chairing its Pops Concert Committee.

Most of all he truly loved his family and could speak for hours about his wife and three daughters. A friend commented, "It is rare to find someone so dedicated to his work and the company he worked for, and to have all the love and passion for his own family and personal life." Another friend shared, "We'll miss his wit and sweet smile."

Surviving are his wife, Peggy; three daughters, Amy Saharia and her husband, Kapil, of Silver Spring, Md., Sarah of Waltham, Mass., and Kristen of New Orleans, La.; two sisters, Joanne of Sydney, Australia, and Jennifer of Greenwich, Conn.; and one brother, Jeffrey and his wife, Elsie, of Des Plains, Ill.

Visiting hours will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 7, at Brackett Funeral Home, 29 Federal St., Brunswick. A Life Celebration Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 8, at St. Charles Borromeo Church, 132 McKeen St., Brunswick, with burial at the Growstown Cemetery on Church Road. A reception in the St. Charles Parish Hall will follow the services.