Phillip James Pash

Phillip James Pash was born in Freeport, IL on July 19, 1939, to Russell Pash and Margaret (Ruman) Pash. He passed from this life on September 30, 2022 in Janesville, WI.  On July 25, 1965 he married the love of his life, Donna Pash. Phil was a proud graduate of Freeport Aquin High School.

Phil was an avid fan of auto racing. He was a member of the Blackhawk Valley Region (BVR) of the Sports Car Club of America. He spent many weekends at Blackhawk Farms and Road America. He made many friends through his association with BVR.

Phil also loved to fish. He and Donna spent many hours fishing the lakes and rivers all over Illinois and Wisconsin. He would write about many of those adventures in his newspaper columns.

Phil started in the newspaper business at the age of 16 writing obituaries. He eventually wrote about sports for various newspapers for over 40 years. His focus was on the outdoors and auto racing. He started the “Big Fish” program in a local paper which was very popular in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Readers would submit the weight and length of their fish to be published. On the auto racing side, he had a Sunday column in the New York Times for years. Some of the people he interviewed over the years included Walter Payton, Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt, Bobby Allison, among others.

He was survived by Donna Pash, his wife of 57 years; two sons, Chris (Barbara) Pash of Farmington, NM, and Kevin (Terry) Pash of Goose Creek, SC; grandson Brett Pash of Farmington, NM; sister “Inky” (Oliver) Anason of Janesville, WI.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Russell Pash and Margaret Pash and his mother and father-in-law, Don and Darlene Blankenship.

No services are planned at this time. 

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