Phillip (Phil) L. Brockington Jr.

Phillip (Phil) L. Brockington Jr., age 83, of Valparaiso, IN, passed away peacefully Sunday, November 5, 2023, at his home surrounded by friends and his beloved cat, Flore. Phil was born January 7, 1940, in Richmond Hill, NY to Philipp L. and Germaine (Belivieu) Brockington, Sr. When Phil was 14 years old, the family moved to Chesterton, IN. 

Phil graduated from Chesterton High School in 1958, from Amherst College in 1962, and from Harvard Law School in 1965. He began his law career with Chester, Clifford, Hoeppner & Horan in Valparaiso and served as partner from 1966 to 1972. A major case for Phil was representing Orville Redenbacher in the sale of his popcorn business to Hunt-Wesson Foods. In 1972 Phil joined the faculty of the Valparaiso University School of Law where he taught business law courses, such as Corporations and Mergers and Acquisitions, and his favorite, a seminar in law and literature. He retired from the Valpo faculty in 1996 as professor emeritus. 

Phil then turned his many talents to supporting the arts. He became a docent for the Brauer Museum of Art at Valparaiso University. He and his partner Howard Reeve Jr., donated valuable works of art to the Museum that provided context for the Collection’s 19th-century portraits. Aside from being a driving force for the success of the museum, Phil was a writer for the Museum’s catalog, “American Art of the Brauer Museum of Art” published in 2020. His love for the arts translated into generous donations to the Museum. At the same time, Phil continually added to his own private collection of renowned Indiana artists and generously supported the Porter County Museum. 

As co-owner of Coburg Planting Fields in Valparaiso, Phil’s love of daylilies led him to hybridize his own daylilies, two of which are “Coburg Fright Wig” and “Germaine.” In recent years, Phil enjoyed playing bridge with his many friends, hosting the Mathesis Club, and painting wonderful watercolor portraits of cats. Phil was always looking to the future in his creative endeavors. He spent a lifetime sharing his love of the arts and literature with the world and bringing his quiet intelligence to all who knew him. Philipp was preceded in death by his parents and his partner Howard Reeve Jr.

At Phil’s request, a gathering of his friends and colleagues was held on Saturday, December 2, 2023, at the Brauer Museum of Art. Memorials in Phillip Brockington’s name may be made to the Brauer Museum of Art or the Porter County Museum.