Necrology
Phillip Freeman McNall '57
Dec. 9, 1935-Nov. 28, 2020
Phillip “Phil” Freeman McNall ’57, a retired U.S. Navy rear admiral, died at his home in San Ramon, Calif., on Nov. 28, 2020. Born on Dec. 9, 1935, in Rochester, N.Y., he came to Hamilton from the Burris Preparatory School in Silver Spring, Md.
Phil’s first year on the Hill proved to be momentous. Beside pledging Delta Upsilon fraternity and playing basketball, he formed a strong connection with Professor of Mathematics Brewster Gere. The young student came to regard his professor as one of the most important influences on his life: thanks in large part to Professor Gere’s mentoring and encouragement, Phil successfully applied for admission to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., after one year at the College. Indeed, knowledge he acquired through his interactions with Professor Gere gave him, in his words, “a solid foundation in math and eased the pain of Plebe year.” As brief as his residence at Hamilton was, Phil never forgot the experience, was a regular donor to the Annual Fund, and returned for his 40th and 50th class reunions.
In 1958, Phil graduated from the Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering. In June of that year, he married Ann Strobel. His first assignment as an ensign was on the Amphibious Force Command Ship Estes based in San Diego, Calif. Later, he would be transferred to the Supply Corps. In 1966, he earned a master’s of science in operations research at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif.
Over the course of a 30-year career, he was assigned to 14 duty stations as a supply officer. His first command was at the Supply Center in San Diego, after which he became supply officer for the Pacific Seventh Fleet in Honolulu. Following promotion to the rank of rear admiral, he began his second and final assignment as commanding officer of the Aviation Supply Office in Philadelphia. He retired from the Navy in September 1988. After retirement, he married Andrea Putrino and established residence in San Ramon, Calif., where he worked as a consultant in the defense industry and as a golf teaching professional.
Phillip F. McNall is survived by three children and five grandchildren. Andrea predeceased him in 2008.
