Arthur Phillip (Phil) Hawgood Jr. grew up and spent most of his life in La Cañada Flintridge. He attended Oak Grove Elementary School and was a part of the inaugural freshman class of the then newly built La Cañada High School. After graduation, he attended Orange Coast College before transferring to San Diego State University. He graduated with a degree in child psychology.
Influenced by his father (Arthur Phillip Hawgood, Sr.), a mechanical engineer, he went into the construction industry, where he worked college summers as a laborer, carpenter and foreman, as well as side jobs installing mechanical work his father designed. However, life took him back home when he followed in the footsteps of his mother Virginia (Ginny) Hawgood to become a real estate broker in La Cañada. After working with Ginny, he bought her business and building, which he converted into the commercial building you currently see at 650 Foothill Blvd. This was the successful start of his personal construction career. He went on to build several lavish custom homes in La Cañada, including family homes on Chevy Chase Drive and Inverness Drive.
After years of searching, Phil finally met the love of his life, Sara Ellerbe. They married in Pasadena on Aug. 20, 1982, and went on to have three children. They lived together in La Cañada for 33 years before retiring to Canyon Lake.
Phil was a very competitive person. At LCHS, Phil loved playing football, track and cross-country. In fact, he won the Rio Hondo cross-country championship his freshman year. In his late 30s and early 40s, Phil turned his enthusiasm to cycling, where he spent years honing his skills, almost qualifying for the Olympic team and nearly winning national competitions. After having kids, he turned his attention to coaching and teaching his sons to compete and love sports. Phil was a coach to all three of his son’s baseball teams, even winning a championship in the Bronco league at La Cañada’s Cornishon field. Later in life, Phil dove into tennis, where he played multiple times a week with his friends, first in La Cañada and then in Canyon Lake. Throughout his life, Phil enjoyed snow skiing and water skiing and never turned down an opportunity to take out his boat to waterski/wakeboard or trek to Mammoth Mountain with whoever wanted to join.
Phil was also an active member in the community. He contributed over 30 years to the Tournament of Roses, where he rose to the position of Vice Chair and served as a POA Director and Vice President in Canyon Lake. He enjoyed being a part of something that enhanced the community and allowed him to engage with others.
Successful real estate broker, community volunteer, custom builder, and father, Phil lived his life to the fullest. He passed away on July 30, 2023, at the age of 73 due to congestive heart failure. He passed surrounded by loved ones who will continue to carry on his memories. He is survived by his wife, Sara; their three sons, Arthur (the third), Andrew, and Alexander; multiple grandchildren, Harper, August, and Julius; and his sisters, Katie and Chris.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023, at 2 p.m. at La Cañada Presbyterian Church.
