Thursday, August 10, 2023
REMEMBERING PHIL
By Marty Niedelman
When Frank and I bought Jampole Pharmacy on Myrtle Avenue in Glendale, N.Y. and named it Frankmart Pharmacy, we were looking for boys to do delivery and stock work. A young teenager named Phil May was one of our first applicants and was hired. Right from the beginning, we could see how responsible he was and how well he conducted himself. Phil was extremely likable and he enjoyed interacting with people, as seen by how his friends in the neighborhood liked being around him.
As the years went by, Phil took more of an interest in the pharmacy business and we taught him more and more. By the time we moved down the street to a larger facility, Phil was helping to fill prescriptions and do mostly everything in the store. He even got his Pharmacy Technician's license. My partner, Frank, ran the business and I worked one day a week and whenever Frank needed some time off. I really looked forward to coming to work at Frankmart, largely to be able to work with Phil. He made it very comfortable and enjoyable to come to work. It was a great pleasure to joke and interact with Phil. I found him to be very considerate of others, and showed that he had great charisma. The only bad trait he had was being a Boston Red Sox fan and I am an avid N.Y. Yankee fan. But even that spiced things up, becoming a friendly rivalry.
I can honestly say that I and everyone else who had the priviledge of knowing Phil May, are better off. By interacting and helping the hundreds of people walking into Frankmart Pharmacy, Phil made our world a better place. Phil will be dearly missed and we love him very much.
