Philip was born October 1, 1923 in Amherst, Hampshire County, Massachusetts. He was the son of Clark Leonard Thayer and Gladys Vera Cooper. His lineage is: Richard1-2, Nathaniel3, Hezekiah4-5, Reuben6, Hezekiah7, Reuben8, Ruben Lewis9, Clark Leonard10, Philip Standish Sr.11.
Phil was a professional Bio-Chemist and worked for the Arthur D. Little Company in the Boston area for many years. He also performed volunteer research for the New England Historical & Genealogical Society (NEHGS) in Boston for several years. After his retirement in 1985 he became involved with H.Hobart Holly and James B. Thayer, Sr. when the subject of forming a Thayer Family Association became their prime concern. This particular family had never received its due recognition beginning with the first Thayer Immigrant to America in 1637, Thomas Thayer, who emigrated from Thornbury, England and was the first Thayer to settle in Braintree and America. Together with Phil’s connections at NEHGS, Mr. Holly’s first hand knowledge of the new Thayer Genealogy authored by the late Waldo Sprague and the expertise of Jim Thayer, a retired businessman from Beaverton, OR, the formation of TFA was conceived in 1985. In 1990, 75 volunteer members of the Thayer Family Association labored together to build up the new organization by donating minimum start-up expenses with several helping with various chores.
Phil had one son, Philip S., Jr. who still lives in Hull, MA with his daughter Chelsea.
On January 1, 1991 the Board of Directors formerly founded the Thayer Families Association. The President was William Russell Thayer, now a Director, living in Springfield, MA. The Vice President was Jim Thayer, from Beaverton, OR, and Phil Thayer, Sr., without question, became the Secretary/Treasurer. The first six Directors were Katherine Naughton of New York City; the Rev. Paul W. Hutchins of Concord, MI, now Walnut, IA; Robert Alden Knighton of Randolph, MA; Edward R. Johnson of Walpole, MA; Howard Saville Thayer of N. Scituate, MA; and Robert Thayer Elbridge of Plymouth, MA. As I noted earlier, there were about 75 volunteer members in January 1991 and by January 1993, the number rose sharply to over 200 active members.
On February 2, 1993, Phil was operated on for an aneurysm of his heart. Unfortunately, while he was in recovery, he succumbed from complications, unexpectedly.