May is National Mental Health Awareness Month and on this, the 1st of May, Camden Catholic is proud to launch the Jack Phipps Memorial Fund in collaboration with the Phipps family and Jack's many friends, colleagues and former students. Jack Phipps served the Camden Catholic community for 53 years while wearing a number of hats, but none so memorable as that of Guidance Counselor. Mr. Phipps was a fierce advocate for the wellbeing of thousands of students and in honor of his tremendous legacy, Camden Catholic is working to expand student mental health services.
Jack Phipps first arrived at Camden Catholic more than half a century ago, in 1963, fresh out of Villanova University to the brand new campus of Camden Catholic High School in Cherry Hill. The original campus had burned down in Camden in 1961 and the class of 1963 was the first to graduate from the “new” school. Jack’s inaugural position on the faculty was as a member of the math department, a role which he adeptly performed for the next 50-plus years.
During those fifty-three years Jack wore a number of different hats while serving the Camden Catholic Community: Math teacher, Math Department Chairperson, National Honor Society Moderator, Junior Class Moderator, Master Schedule Creator, Teacher and Student Scheduler, P.S.A.T. Coordinator, S.S.D. Coordinator, Freshmen boys Basketball Coach, Freshmen Boys Assistant Football Coach, Assistant Wrestling Coach, and Guidance Counselor extraordinaire! And while doing this he also took graduate courses at Rutgers, Rowan, and Temple.
In his role as Guidance Counselor, Jack worked under the renowned Fr. William Hart in that department as he became a pro at leading students and parents through the trials and tribulations of high school, and even more-importantly through the college admissions process.
On April 30, 1995 he was named an honorary alumnus of Camden Catholic High School, and in 2022 he was inducted into the Camden Catholic Hall of Fame. Jack passed away in September 2023, leaving a legacy of thousands of students who have been influenced by his teaching, guidance and friendship.
Camden Catholic is grateful to the Phipps family, his wife Pat, and his children John and Jacqueline, for partnering with us in remembering Jack through the Memorial Fund.
Gifts to the Jack Phipps Memorial Fund will help facilitate;
The dedication of the Guidance Office to Mr. Jack Phipps;
A physical upgrade/improvement within the guidance office;
Expanded guidance staff specifically aimed at addressing mental health services; and
An annual guidance scholarship named for Jack Phipps.