Memorial Service

Pastor Philip T. Sica

September 27, 1934 – September 10, 2021

      Old Westbury Seventh-day Adventist Church

           September 19, 2021 at 2:00 p.m.

Memorial Service

Processional                                                                                   Pastor and Family

Opening Prayer                                                                 Pastor Anthony Mazzella

Scripture Reading                                                                 Pastor Steven Siciliano

                                              1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Hymn 567                                                                     “Have Thine Own Way Lord”

                                                                                            (A favorite of Pastor Sica)

Eulogy                                                                                                     Bradley Sica Jr.

Musical Selection              “It Is Well with My Soul”                     Naomi J. Sica

                        (Played at her brother’s funeral 07/01/2017)  McDonald/Bliss

Message                                                                                Pastor Anthony Mazzella

Sharing Memories                                                                        Family and Friends

Closing Hymn 633                                                   “When We All Get to Heaven”

Benediction                                                                          Pastor Anthony Mazzella

Recessional

Acknowledgements

The Sica family wishes to express sincere gratitude to all those who have prayed and emotionally supported us during this time of loss.              

Reception

Please join us for light refreshments immediately following the service, at the Whispering Pines School Gymnasium, located adjacent to the church.

Life Sketch

Philip T. Sica was born on September 27, 1934 in New York City, on 113^th Street and First Avenue, to Anna Raucci and Theodore Sica. He attended St. Stephens Elementary School and was graduated from Cardinal Hayes High School at age 16. He attended Pace College and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts in 1955.

On September 11, 1955, Philip married Theresa Fogarty. They lived in Woodhaven, NY, and later moved to Little Neck, NY.  They had four children:  Bryan, Bradley, Lynn and Leslie.  He had four grandchildren:  Bradley, Andrew, Ashley and Emma.

Philip served in New York City in various capacities. He worked for the NYC Department of Hospitals, which is now called the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. He was a Senior Investigator for the NYC Department of Finance; New York Housing Authority Assistant; Detective-Investigator for the Queens County District Attorney’s Office; and Marshal for the City of New York, appointed by Mayor John Lindsay.

Philip was in the US Army Reserves and served for 5 ½ years with the 77^th Army Infantry Division.  Later on, Philip was the American Legion Queens County Chaplain and Past 10^th District Chaplain; in addition, for many years he was the Committee Chairman of the County Oratorical Contest, Commander of the American Legion Post 301, and was their Chaplain until his passing.

While working as City Marshal, Philip met a literature evangelist on 34^th Street across from Macy’s.  The literature evangelist handed him a small booklet entitled “Steps to Christ.” He enrolled Philip in the Voice of Prophecy Bible Study Course.  Philip said, “That was a pivotal moment of my life.”  He was “searching for truth.” That was the beginning of his journey in knowing his Savior, Jesus Christ, with many life changes to come.  He began attending the Crossroads SDA Church at 227 W. 46^th Street– the address found at the back of the booklet.  About six months later, he was baptized by Swedish Pastor, Arne Klingstrand.  They were in touch for many years and saw each other in CA, two months before Elder Klingstrand’s death at age 100.

Before he became a pastor, Philip decided to enroll in Atlantic Union College’s Adult Degree Program in MA and in 1980, received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion.

In 1976, he met Naomi Jungling a week after his baptism, attending the same church.  A music teacher, she studied at Teachers College, Columbia University during the summer months where she worked toward a graduate degree.  She is from Lodi, CA, the daughter of immigrant parents, Germans from Russia.  Six years later they were married, September 23, 1982, in Lincoln, NE. Elder Merlin Kretschmar became acquainted with Philip, and soon after, invited him to work (1980) at the Greater New York Conference of Seventh-day Adventists as Trust Services Director, doing wills and estate planning.  He helped develop the Morris Park Branch Sabbath School to a Company.

The Morris Park SDA Church is currently a flourishing church in the Bronx.  Pastor Philip T. Sica pastored many churches in the Conference and was also the Corporation Secretary and Director of Development. He was instrumental in establishing the Oakview SDA School and the Victory SDA Church in the Bronx, as well as many other church acquisitions. He retired 09/01/1999 after a term pastoring the Livingston and Kingston SDA Churches.  He continued to serve for quite some time after his retirement, with various interim pastoral assignments throughout the Conference, loving to be of help.  After his retirement, he established Wise Choice Realty, Inc., which he owned and operated for several years.