Philip Louis Woolf

WOOLF: Philip Louis Woolf, age 90; April 30, 1925-November 18, 2015. Philip Louis Woolf passed away suddenly Wednesday night, eight months after his beloved wife, Renee. Born in London, England, he served in World War II in the Royal Air Force as a navigator, and married Renee in 1948. They came to the Pittsburgh area in 1952 and settled in Squirrel Hill. Philip received his bachelor’s in chemistry from Carnegie Tech, and went on to work at the U.S. Bureau of Mines, where he quickly rose to director of the Experimental Blast Furnace in Bruceton, Pa., and became an internationally known expert in Metallurgy. Later, he became executive vice president of American Chemsol until he retired, and continued to work as a consultant. He was a brilliant man and an avid bridge player who held Life Master status with the American Contract Bridge League. He was still enthusiastically enjoying bridge at 90. The Woolfs were members of Temple Sinai for many years. “Lou” is survived by his children, Jonathan M. Woolf (Dorie) of Lake Oswego Ore., Rabbi Joanne Yocheved Heiligman (Gary) of Columbia, Md., and Frank K. Woolf of Wilkinsburg, and grandchildren, Jessica and Rebecca Woolf, and David, Naomi, and Phoebe Heiligman. Also survived by his brother, Harold Woolf in England, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Phyllis and Stanley Levine, of Elyria, Ohio, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Alfred and Mae Freedman in England, sister-in-law Marian Freedman in Australia, American nieces and nephews David Rosner, Leon Rosner, Steve Levine, Julie Levine, as well as great nephews and nieces Perri and Drew Rosner, and Deanna and Lauren Levine, and many more abroad. Graveside burial was held at Temple Sinai Memorial Park on Tuesday, November 24. Rabbi James Gibson officiated. The family received visitors after the burial. Contributions may be made to Temple Sinai of Pittsburgh, or Kennedy Krieger High School for children with special needs, 3825 Greenspring Ave., Baltimore, MD 21211.

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