Philip James Faini, aged 91, died peacefully in his sleep surrounded by family on June 7, 2023. Phil was born in Masontown, Pa., to Christine (DeMolli) and Philip Faini. Phil lost his mother at age 6 and his father at age 13 and was then raised by his beloved Nonna.
At age 16, Phil excelled as a drummer and played regularly with dance bands in the region. His work was featured on the radio shows during that time, and he was recruited to become part of the 4th Army Band in San Antonio, Texas, where he played official ceremonies including a visit from President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Once Phil finished his military service, he enrolled at WVU to study music; he also studied percussion with Roy Knapp, Jose Bethancourt, and Frank Lorince. Phil completed his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Music at WVU before being hired to establish the first marching band at Potomac State College in Keyser.
Following his work at Potomac State, Phil was hired to teach in the Music Department at WVU. He served as a Graduate Assistant then moved through the ranks of Assistant, Associate, Full Professor, Dean of the College of Creative Arts, and Dean Emeritus. Phil, referred to as ‘The Chief’ by his students, launched the careers of hundreds of students as they contributed to the field of music in countless ways. He worked with his students to create performances recognized across the country, sold out concerts at the Creative Arts Center, record albums, CDs, invited concerts for professional music organizations, national and international audiences. They received an Emmy nomination for their work on Percussion Noel, still shown on PBS. The Percussion Ensembles performed on the Today Show and were chosen by the U.S. Department of State to represent the country in a concert tour of South America. Phil always remained loyal to the state of West Virginia’s youth by taking his Percussion Ensembles on a performance tour of the state high schools regularly, introducing the music programs of the College of Creative Arts to young students around West Virginia.
During his tenure at WVU, Phil conducted research into the traditional instruments and notation of African music from the oral traditions in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, and Ghana. His groundbreaking transcriptions, study of instruments, and resultant teaching served as one of the first frameworks for an international curriculum in multicultural and world music in music education textbooks. Phil continued to link music education across cultures by establishing the World Music Center at WVU. This work incorporated the founder of Steel Drums, Ellie Mannette, who relocated his workshop from Trinidad to Morgantown with Phil’s assistance. He also integrated the instruments and musical styles of Indonesia with the incorporation of the Gamelan as well as the royal drums of Japan to the World Music Center at WVU.
Phil produced hundreds of original compositions and arrangements for percussion ensembles. These ensemble arrangements are still in demand today. Phil would regularly receive messages from musicians around the world interested in his percussion ensemble compositions. Additionally, Phil was recognized with a variety of honors and awards throughout his life from professional organizations, communities, educational institutions, and government entities. International Percussion Associations have honored his innovative work and musical compositions. Phil gained a great deal of pleasure from former students who continued to stay in touch and visit him throughout his life. The number of students who maintained their connections to him over the years demonstrated the love and appreciation they felt for his teaching.
Philip James Faini was a true Renaissance man as he regularly sought new knowledge and engaged in creative hobbies of studying languages, gourmet cooking, baking, gardening, piloting small planes, golf, bocce, tennis, and playing with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He would be the first to acknowledge that family was everything to him. He was a faith filled man who attended St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church and served as a role model as a servant leader. He fully gave of himself to support his family and friends in any way that he could. He will be greatly missed.
In addition to his parents, Phil was preceded in death by his father and mother-in-law, Aldino and Josephine (DeMarchi) Netchi; son-in-law, Timothy P. Saab; and brother-in-law, Ronald Netchi.
Phil’s survivors include his loving wife of nearly 70 years, Doris Jeanne (Netchi) Faini; three children, Joy (Tim, deceased) Saab, John (Shaney) Faini, and Dina (Dominic) Muttillo; a sister, Maria McIntire; a sister-in-law, Virginia (Ronald, deceased) Netchi; eleven grandchildren, Regina (Matt) Scott, David (Angela) Saab, Steven (Madison) Saab, Maria Faini, Anthony (Jenelle) Faini, Joseph (Lindsey) Faini, Christine (Michael) Gardner, Nico Muttillo, Giulia Muttillo, Angelina (Daniel) D’Angelo, Isabella Muttillo; ten great-grandchildren, Luisa Scott, Jude Sgroi, Vito Faini, Rocco Faini, Ella Faini, Lydia Faini, James Faini, Giuliana Faini, Neva Gardner, and Cora Gardner; nieces, Chrysta McIntire, Nina (Don) Ginocchio, Nancy (Hugh) Netchi; nephews, Jim McIntire, Rick (Jessica) McIntire.
Friends are invited for visitation at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 3346 University Avenue, Morgantown, 304-599-3747, from 3-7:30 p.m. on Monday, June 12 with a prayer vigil beginning at 7 p.m. and on Tuesday, June 13 from 10 a.m. to time of service at 11:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 13, at St. Mary’s with Rev. John McDonough and Rev. John DiBacco concelebrating.
The family would like to thank the professional staff of Amedysis Home Health and Hospice Services for the excellent care they delivered to Phil during his illness. Additional thanks are extended to the caring nurses and staff at Mon General Hospital for their compassionate end-of-life care.
If you would like to honor Phil’s legacy, the family suggests donations to one of the funds established to benefit the programs and people that were so important to him at West Virginia University. These are: The Philip Faini Scholarship; The Jeanne and Philip Faini Visiting Artist Fund; The Philip Faini and Falbo Family Endowed Deanship at the College of Creative Arts, and The Philip and Jeanne Faini World Music Library Endowment.
Please make any checks payable to the WVU Foundation, and direct them to:
WVU Foundation,
Attention Tim Bolling,
PO Box 1650,
Morgantown, WV 26507-1650
Please note that the gift is being made In Honor of Philip J. Faini.
Caring services are being provided by Dering – Henson Funeral Home.
