Philip Pressel June 22, 1937 – October 18, 2023

Philip Pressel

June 22, 1937 – October 18, 2023

Phil was born in Antwerp, Belgium to Miriam and Joseph Pressel. Phil and his parents fled to France when Hitler invaded Belgium. They were in hiding until the end of the war. Phil was sheltered for a time in Vourles, France by the Sabathiers, a kind Catholic family.

After the war, the family immigrated to New York as his dad was hired by the United Nations as a translator. Joseph Pressel died at age 51. His mother supported the family as a seamstress and died at 104. Phil attended Stuyvesant High School, NYU, and the University of Pennsylvania.

He worked as a mechanical engineer, mostly at the Perkin-Elmer Corporation, working on top secret programs. His greatest challenge was designing the cameras for the Hexagon Spy Satellite.

Phil had four children: Allan, David, and Linda and six grandchildren: Robert, Adam, Austin, Julia, Zachary, and Elliot. He was predeceased by his son, Stephen. The “love of his life” was his wife, Pat. After retirement they moved to San Diego and later to Sudbury, Massachusetts. Phil loved retirement. He wrote two books (They are Still Alive, a biography and Meeting the Challenge, a book about the Hexagon satellite). He often spoke to groups about the Holocaust, Hexagon and designing instruments for space. He loved officiating Track and Field meets, traveling and swimming.

His niece, Nancy Connors, blessed him with 17 ½ years of life by giving him a kidney. Thanks to Pat’s family for being so kind and accepting of him and for supporting Pat through all his medical challenges. He was the “kindest of men”. He will always be in our hearts. He died of pancreatic cancer. His final days were spent at Care Dimensions Hospice House, being cared for by gentle people. A Celebration of Life was held in Virginia. Donations can be made in his name to Care Dimensions Hospice House, 125 Winter Street, Lincoln, Massachusetts, or your favorite charity.

I was a collegue of Phil’s for his later public speaking work. We did “tag team” lectures. He covered the camera and I gave the program overview and command & control areas. I was a Captain at the Sunnyvale AFS “Blue Cube” controlling Hexagon. I will continue this blog to provide news and anecdotes of Hexagon since declassification. - Ricky Deutsch