Phillip John Chandler II

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Phillip will be remembered for his loyal heart, his joyful spirit, his sense of humor, and his ability to bring laughter into almost any situation.

Phillip John Chandler II, born July 10, 1973, in Rome, New York, passed away peacefully in his sleep on August 15, 2026, following an extraordinarily difficult 18-month medical battle. He was 53 years old.

Phillip will be remembered for his loyal heart, his joyful spirit, his sense of humor, and his ability to bring laughter into almost any situation. He loved his family and friends fiercely, laughter came easily to him, and those fortunate enough to know him knew that Phillip had a way of making life a little louder, a little more fun, and a lot more memorable.

Phillip attended college and culinary school, beginning what would become a lifelong love affair with good food and cooking. The kitchen was one of his happiest places. He found both comfort and creativity there, preparing meals for the people he loved and turning ordinary evenings into occasions. But with Phillip, it was never just about the food. There was always humor, usually music, and very often Phillip singing while he cooked. A home with Phillip in the kitchen was a home filled with flavor, laughter, and song.

Phillip was also a true Harley-Davidson enthusiast who felt most free on his motorcycle. He loved the open road and the sense of freedom, peace, and possibility that came with a ride. His motorcycle was more than a hobby; it reflected something essential about Phillip himself — his independent spirit, his love of adventure, and his desire to keep moving forward toward whatever might be around the next bend.

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Skylar became the brightest light in Phillip's final chapter and one of the greatest joys of his life.

For 25 years, Phillip shared his life with his loving fiancée and life partner, Kristina Rico. Together, they built a life filled with love, laughter, challenges, adventures, and a history uniquely their own. Through every chapter, and especially through the most difficult one, Kristina remained faithfully by his side.

The final 18 months of Phillip's life became a testament to just how fiercely he could fight for the people he loved.

Kristina was in her third trimester with their daughter, Skylar Alexandra, when Phillip suffered a devastating heart attack and stroke. In the midst of the medical crisis that followed, Skylar arrived five weeks early. Suddenly, while his newborn daughter was beginning her life, Phillip was fighting for his own.

And Phillip fought.

For the next 18 months, through hospitalizations, procedures, setbacks, rehabilitation, and challenges few could have endured, Phillip continued to fight to stay with his family. He fought to know his daughter. He fought to be present for her first year of life and to experience as many moments with her as his body would allow.

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Those precious months together became a gift that Kristina will carry forward for their daughter.

Skylar became the brightest light in Phillip's final chapter and one of the greatest joys of his life. Although father and daughter were given far too little time together, Phillip got to know his little girl. He saw her face, watched her grow from a tiny premature baby into the little girl she is becoming, and experienced the extraordinary joy of being her daddy.

And Skylar got to know her daddy.

Those precious months together became a gift that Kristina will carry forward for their daughter. Skylar will grow up knowing who her father was, how deeply he loved her, and how extraordinarily hard he fought for every moment he was able to spend with her.

After everything Phillip endured, his family finds comfort in knowing that his long fight is over and that he is finally at peace.

Phillip leaves behind a lifetime of memories: meals shared around a table, songs sung in the kitchen, laughter with friends, rides on the open road, and countless ordinary moments that have become extraordinary now because they were shared with him. His absence leaves an immeasurable void in the lives of those who loved him, but his spirit lives on in the stories they will tell, the laughter they will remember, and most especially in his daughter, Skylar.

Phillip will be deeply missed, lovingly remembered, and forever held close in the hearts of his family and friends.

In lieu of flowers or trees, those wishing to honor Phillip's memory may consider making a contribution to the PA 529 College and Career Savings Program established for his daughter, Skylar Rico-Chandler.

Phillip fought incredibly hard for 18 months to remain with his family and to be present for Skylar's first year of life. Helping provide for the future of the daughter he loved so deeply is a meaningful way to honor his memory.

Contributions may be made directly to Skylar's PA 529 account through Ugift using her contribution code:

Ugift Code: B4Z-S9E

Every contribution made in Phillip's memory will become part of the future he wanted for his little girl.

Finally, Kristina and Skylar wish to express their profound gratitude to the doctors, nurses, social workers, and other caregivers at Jefferson Bucks County Hospital for the dedication and compassion they showed Phillip and his family throughout his medical journey.

They also extend their deepest gratitude to the extraordinary staff at Statesman Health and Rehabilitation Center, who cared for far more than Phillip's medical needs. Over the course of his time there, you became part of Phillip, Kristina, and Skylar's family.

Because of your care, compassion, patience, and love, Phillip was given time — time to know his daughter, time for Skylar to know her daddy, and time for their family to turn one year into a lifetime of memories.

There are no words sufficient to thank you for that gift.

You became our family during one of the most difficult chapters of our lives, and you will forever remain in our hearts.

Rest peacefully, Phillip. You fought so incredibly hard to stay with us. You will always be loved, always be remembered, and always be Skylar's daddy.