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Phyllis Temple
Real estate broker was devoted volunteer for non-profits
Phyllis Jean Temple, of Provincetown, died Dec. 27.
Phyllis was a graduate of Hunter High School and Hunter College in New York City. She studied dance with Merce Cunningham and Martha Graham.
Phyllis moved from New York City to Provincetown in 1968 and lived with her beloved life partner, Roslyn Garfield, for 40 years.
Over that time, from fond friends to brief acquaintances, many have emphasized how much the care and commitment and the joy which Phyllis and Roslyn shared has served as an inspiration to others of what a loving relationship can be.
Phyllis was the principal real estate broker of Roslyn Garfield Associates for 36 years, and she served on the town’s municipal advertising and personnel committees.
She was a volunteer and supporter of a number of Provincetown non-profit organizations. She was one of the first volunteers for the Provincetown AIDS Support Group. She and Roslyn served many hours as the auction recorders for the Fine Arts Work Center and the AIDS Support Group auctions. She was a volunteer at both the Provincetown Heritage Museum and the Provincetown Art Association and Museum, and she and Roslyn for many years hosted the annual potluck event for the Provincetown Conservation Trust.
In 2001 she received the Leadership Award from the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
From beach picnics to the most elegant restaurants in Paris, Phyllis never failed to have a grand time. And she was always up for an adventure. There are those who remember her sinking into a quaking bog while on a Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies walk and never missing a beat. Not to mention her delight at actually touching the skin of an orca in Provincetown Harbor.
Phyllis loved Provincetown and loved it as her home.
She also loved traveling, and the list of places she visited is a veritable atlas around the world: Paris, China, Hong Kong, India, Tibet, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, South America, Africa, Egypt and Israel, among others. And, no matter where she went or what she was doing, Phyllis could make an entrance with a sense of style that was second to none.
Phyllis was also a voracious reader and heartily enjoyed talking about books. While she loved books, she never had a library card because, she said, she didn’t want the commitment. She was also one of those intrepid souls who did the Sunday Times crossword puzzle in ink.
All who knew Phyllis were lifted by her enthusiasm, her verve, her exuberant embrace of life and the joy of her laughter. She brought life and sparkle, wit and fun into the world and leaves a large space in the heart of all her friends and family.
In addition to her beloved life partner Roslyn, she is survived by her nieces Elizabeth Novak and Judith Seilbert of Florida, her nephew Andrew Wrublin of New York City, and by her dear friends Deborah Heller, Ann Sanders, Eunice Shatz and Roxanne Cumming.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. Gifts in memory of Phyllis may be made to Helping Our Women, P.O. Box 1376, Provincetown, MA 02657 or online at helpingourwomen.org.
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Randy Roderick, 41
Elizabeth A. Stevens, 68
Patrick J. Shea, 81
Arnold Pisani, 82
Charles R. Herrmann, 86
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Jan 3rd, 2008