Philip Roger Tasker was born on 3 October 1938 in Manhattan, New York. He was the son of

Gladys (Tasker) Booker. Surviving records do not identify his father.

Philip graduated from Junior High School 55 in 1954 and James Monroe High School in the

Bronx in 1957. His high school yearbook reflects the affection and regard his classmates held for

him. His male classmates frequently described him as “a really good or nice guy,” while his

female classmates called him “a really nice or sweet guy.”

Philip was a gifted pianist who could play anything he heard by ear. During his teenage years, he

studied at the Manhattan School of Music. Shortly after completing high school, he joined the

United States Marine Corps and served briefly before receiving an honorable discharge during

peacetime.

He worked for a time during his young adulthood, but his life took a different course when he

developed a mental illness. He spent much of his adulthood in institutional care, yet he lived a

long life, passing away on 4 September 2026 at the age of 87.

His little sister will always remember Philip as the best Big Brother ever, and she remains

grateful for all the love and attention he poured into her during her youth.