Phyllis J. McGinnis

Phyllis J. (Ariano) McGinnis, age 99 of Westtown, PA, formerly of Broomall, Havertown, New York City, and Philadelphia, passed away on January 7, 2025 at Dunwoody Care Center in Newtown Square, PA. Beloved wife of William F. McGinnis, deceased, and devoted mother of Michael N. McGinnis, Esq. Daughter of the late Nicholas, Sr. and Edith Ariano. Survived by twelve loving nieces and nephews as well as many grandnieces and grandnephews. Preceded in death by her brothers, Joseph, Nicholas, Jr., Michael, William, and her sister, Lucy.

A Funeral Mass will take place on Saturday, January 25, 2025 at 11:00 am at Sts. Simon and Jude Church in Westtown, PA. Interment is private.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Phyllis’ memory may be sent to either Camilla Hall Nursing Home, ℅ Mission Advancement, 230 IHM Drive, Malvern, PA 19355, or Friend for Life Cancer Support Network, 4007 Kresge Way, Louisville, Kentucky 40207-4604.

Phyllis was born in 1925 on Vine Street in center city Philadelphia, where her father had his barber shop. As a child she excelled in school, enjoyed taking on leadership positions, and was her grade school class’s recipient of the American Legion Award. Phyllis graduated from the Philadelphia High School for Girls in 1943 where she had the lead roles in the school’s plays and was a member of the National Honor Society. In her senior year she served as Vice-President of the Student Council and was the Valedictorian of her class. Phyllis then graduated from Peirce Junior College receiving a Diploma in Business.

Phyllis began a twenty year long career in broadcasting (radio and television) at radio Station WIP in Philadelphia as a secretary in the Programming Department where she also had the opportunity to direct and produce original programming. She subsequently worked as a secretary and later an executive secretary at WPTZ, Aitkin-Kynett Advertising Agency, and WPEN. In 1959 Phyllis took a position as Executive Secretary to the President of Westinghouse Broadcasting Corporation and moved to New York City. There she managed office personnel, on-air talent contracts, copyright issues, advertising, accounts receivable, union negotiations, syndicated programming contracts, and commercial reciprocal agreements for the entire company with the assistance of two secretaries of her own.

During this time Phyllis accepted an additional task to assist with the reorganization of Radio Free Europe, which required travel to RFE facilities in several countries in Europe in 1962 in the midst of the Cuban Missile Crisis. She recounted being quickly withdrawn from East Berlin back into West Berlin just as the crisis reached its peak. In 1963 Phyllis was appointed Director of Special Services and Projects for all Group Westinghouse radio and television stations across the United States, which at the time was a rare opportunity for a woman. That same year she happened to meet William and she retired from her career the following year when she married him. Phyllis remained a lifetime member of the National Broadcasters’ Association, and the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia.

Phyllis returned to the Philadelphia area, gave birth to her son, Michael, and became involved with her family again. Her many hobbies included her dogs, gardening, needlework, sewing, crafts, calligraphy, word puzzles, reading, piano, and singing. She sang with both the West Chester Area Senior Center Sunshine Chorus and the Sts. Simon and Jude Church Choir. Phyllis truly enjoyed hosting many family gatherings and holiday parties every year at her home in Westtown. She and William were members of Penn Oaks Golf Club for over forty years where they were avid golfers and made many wonderful friends.

Phyllis was very fortunate to have survived different cancers three times over a twenty-five year period having undergone multiple surgeries and treatments. She volunteered with the Cancer Hope Network, MD Anderson, Imerman Angels, and Friend for Life Cancer Support Network to help others around the country, often mentioning that speaking with the cancer patients and comforting and reassuring them was more meaningful to her than anything else she had done.

Throughout her life Phyllis showed a deep love for family and friends and while her last several years challenged her physically, during the daily Mass on EWTN she always remembered her loved ones in her prayers. May God bless you now and forever.