Philippe Lucien Darcy

Philippe Lucien Darcy

March 18, 1937 – February 7, 2024

Philippe L. Darcy, an extraordinary man whose extraordinary life took him all over the world, passed peacefully on February 7th, at the age of 86 in Alexandria, Virginia.  Philippe is survived by his wife of 32 years, Terry Darcy.  He was the beloved Father of Colonel (ret.) Philippe Darcy (Devon) of Carlisle, PA, Carmel Darcy (Roy Herman) of Alexandria, VA, and Jennifer (David) McKay of Phoenix, AZ.  He was also the beloved Grandfather to Nicole Bonjean Berardo (Tony) of Alexandria, VA, Kristi Darcy of San Diego, CA, Dara Stockdell of Eugene, OR, Ethan Stockdell of Carlisle, PA, Olivia Mckay of Phoenix, AZ, and Sofia McKay of Phoenix, AZ. He was the Great Grandfather to Annie Berardo of Alexandria, VA.  He was the Brother of Jean-Charles (Carmen) Crapez of Plérin, France, Uncle to many nephews and nieces, and Father to his sweet dog Bobbi Darcy.

The family is eternally grateful to Karen Paz Guiterrez, forever now our family, who provided compassionate and loving care to Philippe, always staying one step ahead of her “malo niño”.

Phil (known lovingly by family and extended family as “Papi”) had a personal history suited for an adventure novel.   Born on March 18, 1937, in Paris, France he had as a cruel third year birthday present the arrival of the Nazis in his home country.  As many French children were, Phil was sent alone on a train into the countryside for safety.  Fate would lead him to the little town of Ozillac, where he was adopted by the local baker, Raymond, and his wife Yvonne, two kind souls who gave him (what he later called) “the best part of his childhood” amid the struggle against the invaders.  He often told us tales of these days as if it was some idyllic boyhood in an innocent wonderland.  So began his lifelong philosophy of always finding the best of even the most awful situations.  Here also began his lifelong service to others, as he helped plant surreptitious messages in the baguettes to “sell” to the French Resistance.  Phil might have been the youngest freedom fighter in France.

After his childhood in France, he fell in love with the United States, a love affair he maintained all his days.  In 1955 he enlisted in the US Army and finally arrived in his adopted homeland.  There he earned his GED, gained his citizenship, enrolled in college, and began his long career in service to the Federal Government.  That career would take him abroad, including stints in Germany, Senegal, and Egypt.  His career was centered on the oversight of helping developing countries improve the living conditions of their people.

In the US in 1962, Phil also began his long career as the patriarch of a loving and successful family.  He married Elidia Martinez and together they had three children Philippe, Carmel, and Jennifer.   Tragedy struck in 1978 when Lilly died of cancer and the young father was left to raise his three children alone.  The tales of those days would be recipe for a wonderful, loving childhood with the bewildered, unprepared widower relying on the most unconventional of methods—but somehow it all worked.  If there was a challenging day, Phil would play Edith Piaf “Non, je ne regrette rien”, “No Regrets”.

All these hardships would perhaps have embittered other men, but for Phil the circumstances had a different affect.  He became grateful for anything good life brought his way.  He was compassionate and forgiving always, gentle with people and animals who invariably loved him in return.  He found pleasure in the simplest and smallest joys like a leafy green salad with a vinaigrette.  His eyes would light up around beautiful produce, like a ripened artichoke or tomato.  He loved jogging in the woods.  Indeed, he jogged until he was eighty-four years old, and loved to tell people he jogged the equivalent of several times around the world.

Perhaps his most endearing quality was his gentle acceptance of whatever fate sent his way.  Maybe that is the only way to survive when one is born into a world of Nazi brutality and is separated from parents one hardly knows.  But fate was much kinder after this harsh beginning, and for the many years sent him all the love and joy a person could expect.  Phil shared this love and joy with everyone around him.  And, at the end when his illness set in, he would not complain, but would accept his condition with grace and good humor.  Such he was until the last breath, thoughtful of others first.  Bless you, Phil, thank you for being such a delightful source of joy in all our lives.

A Catholic Mass will be held at Our Lady Queen of Peace Roman Catholic Church, 2700 South 19^th Street, Arlington, VA 22204 at 11:00 am on Friday, February 23^rd, followed by a burial at Ivy Hill Cemetery, 2823 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22302.  A donation can be made to Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation  https://www.lostdogrescue.org/donate-now/dedicated-donation/