Phyllis Supple

Phyllis Ihrig Supple died Wednesday, June 17 at Hillcrest Convalescent Center in Durham, North Carolina following a cardiovascular incident in April. Born just outside of Pittsburgh on September 12, 1939 to Philip Ihrig and Virginia Shupe, Phyllis spent her childhood in Saltsburg, Pennsylvania before moving to Pittsburgh, where she met her future husband, John. Forever passionate about the piano, Phyllis spent summers at the prestigious Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan before attending Bucknell University and Carnegie-Mellon University, from which she graduated in 1961 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in music.

After marrying John, Phyllis moved to Pelham, New York in 1963 where she raised two boys, taught and played piano professionally, held numerous volunteer positions in town, and served as a ruling elder at Huguenot Memorial Church. In 1981, after John relocated for work, Phyllis moved to Princeton, New Jersey, where she joined the faculty at Stuart Country Day School as Director of College Guidance while studying for and receiving a Master’s degree in counseling at Rider University. In 1991, Phyllis and John moved to Durham, where John’s family had originated. After John tragically passed away in 1993, Phyllis became Associate Director of Admissions at Duke University, where for many years she spearheaded Duke’s efforts to recruit qualified international applicants, a position that afforded her amazing opportunities to travel the world, before she retired in 2006.

A committed Presbyterian, Phyllis was an active member of First Presbyterian Church in Durham, serving once more as a ruling elder and in many other leadership positions while playing in the bell choir. In addition to her tireless efforts for FPC, Phyllis was also a trustee of Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, Virginia and a moderator of the Presbytery of New Hope (USA), the Mid-Council of the Presbyterian Church in eastern North Carolina.

Surviving are her brother Mark; her sons, Rick (resident in Brooklyn, New York and married to Catherine) and David (resident in Palm Beach, Florida and married to Rachel); three granddaughters, Rebecca, Margot and Laing (whom she adored and spoiled shamelessly); a nephew, Mark, Jr. and three nieces, Rebecca, Carolyn and Jennifer.

A Service of Witness to the Resurrection will be held at First Presbyterian Church at 11:00 a.m. Friday, August 7th followed by a reception. Contributions to support aspiring young artists may be made in Phyllis’s memory to the Interlochen Center for the Arts at https://www.interlochen.org/giving-to-interlochen/impact-giving/how-to-give.