Philip Smith Walker, 91, of West Hartford and Westbrook, CT, passed away peacefully at home in West Hartford on November 26, 2024.  Phil was predeceased by his beloved wife Helen.  Born in New Haven on April 12, 1933, Phil was the eldest of three sons born to Rose (Smith) and Joseph M. Walker.  In 1950, he graduated from Notre Dame High School in West Haven as a member of its inaugural graduation class. Phil then went onto the University of Notre Dame, where he graduated in 1954 with a degree in Political Science. Following graduation, Phil accepted a commission in the United States Air Force as a second lieutenant, serving as a navigator on transatlantic flights for the Military Air Transport Service for the next three years. After his discharge with the rank of Captain, Phil returned to New Haven to attend Yale Law School, graduating in 1960. That same year, Phil found the two defining loves of his life when he joined the Hartford law firm of Day, Berry & Howard (now Day Pitney LLP) as an associate and met his future wife, Helen Dillon, whom he married in 1961.  Phil thrived as a trial lawyer at Day Berry, building a reputation as both a top litigator and a mentor.  Following his "retirement" in 2008, Phil continued to stay active, serving as an arbitrator for the Connecticut and Federal courts, the American Arbitration Association and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA").  In 1982, he was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and served several years as its Connecticut State Chair. He was also an active member of the National Lawyers Association and the Connecticut and Hartford County Bar Associations.  Throughout his career and retirement, Phil was involved in training programs for young lawyers. He also was active with various civic, professional and community organizations right up to his final days. In his later years, in addition to his arbitration practice, Phil served as chair of the West Hartford Senior Citizens Commission, president of the 1401 Farmington Avenue Community Association, member of the Board of the Ministry of Catholic Social Justice, and the parish council member for the Church of St. Peter Claver.  He also was a long-standing member of the Hartford Golf Club, the Yale Club of New York City and the Notre Dame Club of Greater Hartford.

Phil and Helen are survived by their children, Phil, Jr. (Eileen) of Guilford, M'lou (Sam) of Pennington, New Jersey, Nell of West Hartford, Rosie (Joe) of Sarasota, FL, Peter (Georgina) of Scarsdale, NY, and Sarah (Joe) of Stockbridge, MA; as well as their adored grandchildren: Sarah and Jamie Walker; Cos (Melinda), Daly (William), Caroline and Philip Arnett; Helen and Olivia LaPointe; Charlie and Henry Fioriglio;  Jack Walker; and James and Christian Tonetti.  Phil also is survived by  his brothers, Paul (Susan), of Ponte Vedra, FL, and Monsignor David Walker, of Branford.

A wake will be held on Thursday, December 19, 2024, from 4:00-7:00 pm, at the Parish Center of The Church of St. Peter Claver, 47 Pleasant Street, West Hartford.   A Mass of Christian Burial will follow the next morning at 10:00 am in the main church.   Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, West Hartford. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations  be made to Notre Dame High School, One Notre Dame Way, West Haven, CT 06516, or the Holy Family  Passionist Retreat Center,  303 Tunxis Road, West Hartford, CT 06107. Please visit www.dillonbaxter.com to share a memory with the family.