Sad news

I just learned that a dear old friend from Morocco, Joe McPhillips, the Headmaster of the American School of Tangier, died last night. He apparently fell down the stairs in his home and died of the resulting injuries. He was 71 and I can only hope that he did not suffer.

Knowing Joe certainly made my Morocco experience richer and I know he has touched countless other lives in his 40 years of service in Morocco. He leaves a wonderful legacy in his American Schools of Tangier and Marrakech. It was just weeks ago I was laughing about how curious it was that Jimmy Buffet is this year's AST graduation speaker.

I met Joe my first Thanksgiving in Morocco when I was seated at his table during a formal dinner at the Ambassador's residence. Talk about your culture clashes - 6 turkeys (6!) at a formal seated dinner in Rabat at which the Moroccan Prime Minister was in attendance. Joe and I bonded over Bill Clinton and wine, and I apparently made an impression on him because I gained his friendship and trust for the remainder of my tour.

I always considered Joe my link to the great and colorful expats of an earlier generation. Close to Paul Bowles and the executor of his will, Joe had offered to introduce me to the famed writer if I was ever in Tangier at a time he was not too ailing. Bowles passed away in November 1999, and it was I who Joe insisted on being patched through to early morning when the Marines couldn't reach the Ambassador. We were in Marrakech after having enjoyed a US-Maroc friendly soccer match (and dinner following at Chez Ali, during which my friend David and I goofily chased down the Moroccan stars Hajji and Bashir for pictures while Cesar and Paul shook their heads at us.) I quickly reached our DCM and Consul General to notify them of the news -- mythic though he was, Bowles was still an American citizen who had died abroad. Later that winter, Joe invited Cesar and I to attend the wonderful memorial service and private dinner he had arranged for Bowles' circle of artistic friends. Though I did not get that chance to meet Bowles, it was wonderful to have the opportunity to pay tribute to him through Joe's thoughtful invite.

While some people who visit Morocco try to escape Tangier as quickly as possible if they even set foot there, I loved its weathered character and charm. We frequented the resort Le Mirage outside of town (and even adventured a stay at the faded Hotel Continental once) whenever we could. I would always call Joe in advance of these trips and he had us to his lovely house for champagne, or joined us for a visit at the hotel when his schedule allowed. He came down to Rabat just to attend the Ambassador's going away party for me in 2001 and gifted me a lovely blue and white dish modeled on an antique French design and a painted tile. I recall that he explained to me in his distinctive genteel Alabama drawl that he had chastised the staff member he sent out to pick up these gifts because the tile was not antique (little would I have known the difference!) I will treasure these keepsakes even more now and do my best to keep them safe from the curious toddler's hands.

All my well wishes go to the communities of the American School of Tangier and Marrakech. I know their members have many more memories of Joe as fond as mine. He was simply one of the most memorable characters ever to have touched my life.


MAROC-USA-DIVERSLE DIRECTEUR DE L'ÉCOLE AMÉRICAINE DE TANGER TROUVE LA MORT DANS UN ACCIDENT DOMESTIQUE
Tanger, 11 juin (MAP)- Le directeur de l'école américaine de Tanger, M.Joseph A. McPhillips, a trouvé la mort dans un accident domestique survenu dans la nuit de dimanche à lundi, a-t-on appris de source autorisée.Agé de 71 ans, le défunt a fait une chute mortelle dans les escaliers de sa résidence sise ''Rue de la montagne''. Il a trouvé la mort sur le coup. Le personnel de la résidence a aussitôt alerté les secours et la police qui se sont rendus sur les lieux.Le défunt, qui compte 40 ans de services au Maroc, avait assuré la gestion de l'american school de Marrakech, avant de prendre en charge celle de Tanger.(MAP).