Big John above the ocean at sunset as two dolphins leap from the water

In loving memory of

John Leonard Phillips Sr.

“Big John”

February 13, 1940 — September 12, 2026

86 Years of Strength, Love & Legacy

Explore His Life

Forever in Our Hearts

Love never ends. It finds a new place.

In the quiet of September, the thirteenth day,

We remember sweet Johnny, who danced life away.

With a heart full of joy and a spirit so bright,

He traveled the coast, chasing dreams in the light.

His laughter would echo like music on air,

Each step a celebration, each moment a prayer.

From sun-kissed horizons to mountains so grand,

He held his beloved, hand in hand.

Though the world feels a little less bright now he’s gone,

His love lingers on, like a sweet, timeless song.

A protector of family, steadfast and true,

In their hearts, he will always shine through.

As memories weave gently like threads of a dance,

They’ll cherish his spirit, his laughter, his glance.

So let’s celebrate Johnny, his journeys, his grace,

For love never ends, it just finds a new place.

In the rhythm of life, let his legacy sway,

As we hold on to love, come what may.

Though he’s traveled beyond to a place far and wide,

In the hearts of his family, forever he’ll bide.

The Life of Big John

A life built on strength, discipline, and love.

Big John in boxing gloves working the heavy bag in a gym

John Leonard Phillips Sr., affectionately known as “Big John,” was born February 13, 1940, in the Bronx, New York. His family moved to Chula Vista in 1957, and he graduated from Chula Vista High School as its only Black student.

He served his country in the United States Marine Corps from 1958 to 1961. After returning home, he played tackle football at Southwestern College and earned all-conference recognition.

For more than 25 years, John worked as a truck driver, earning the respect of those around him through consistency, dependability, and a strong work ethic.

Boxing was much more than a hobby for John. It was part of his identity, a testament to his discipline, and one of his greatest accomplishments.

History Made · 1964

Texas Golden Gloves Heavyweight Champion

The first Black boxer in the United States to win a Golden Gloves state championship.

United States Marine Veteran

1958–1961 · Sharpshooter

25+ Years

Professional Truck Driver

A Hidden History Reclaimed

He stepped into history when history books looked away.

In 1962, John answered a call for Black heavyweight boxers and traveled to Houston. He lived inside a segregated gym, sleeping on a cot and training all day for 14 months.

In February 1964, he won the Texas Golden Gloves state heavyweight championship. Newspaper accounts identified him as the first Black boxer in the nation to win a Golden Gloves state title. He and welterweight champion Jesse Valdez brought Houston its first state Golden Gloves trophy in 28 years.

John went on to box professionally. Long after leaving competition, he kept the fighter’s rhythm: even in his eighties, he worked the heavy bag daily at the same 225-pound weight he carried in the 1960s. He also passed his knowledge forward as a boxing trainer in Mission Beach.

“As far as I’m concerned, he’s already a champion.”
— Houston Post boxing columnist John Hollis, 1966
Read the 2021 newspaper profile

Reported by Pam Kragen for The San Diego Union-Tribune, February 15, 2021.

Big John and Renee sharing a kiss during a 2013 evening at Michael Jackson ONE
Big John and Renee at Michael Jackson ONE, November 4, 2013.

His Journey

86 Years of a Life Well Lived

1940

Born in the Bronx, New York

1958–61

Served his country for three years as a United States Marine and sharpshooter

1964

Made history as the first Black boxer in the United States to win a Golden Gloves state championship

Career

More than 25 years as a professional truck driver

Family

Husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and protector of his family

2026

Passed away in San Diego, California on September 12

Big John surrounded by the younger generations of his family
Big John with familyBig John at a family gathering

His Greatest Legacy — Family

Love carried forward through generations.

Parents

Harold Phillips

Ida (Rivera) Phillips

Wife

Renee Criss Phillips

Daughters

Sheila Marie Phillips

Angel Monique Phillips Caruso

Varina Dawn Boyds

Stepchildren

Akele Thompson

Patrick Smith

Grandchildren

Mica Caruso

Angelo Caruso

Joshua Suber

Jacob Suber

Edward Super

Angeliq Caruso

Monte Caruso

Asana Arshadi

Karen Harrison

Nyah Thompson

Evie Thompson

Great-granddaughter

Juni Caruso

Siblings

Charles Phillips

Edrina Smith

Gone Before Him

Waiting at the Shore

John did not cross over alone. Three of the people he loved most were already there — the father who gave him his name, the mother who gave him his heart, and the son who went ahead of him. We like to believe they were waiting at the water’s edge when he arrived.

Harold Phillips — his father of Big John

His Father

Harold Phillips

The strength he inherited.

Ida (Rivera) Phillips — his mother of Big John

His Mother

Ida (Rivera) Phillips

The love he carried.

John Leonard Phillips Jr. — his son of Big John

His Son

John Leonard Phillips Jr.

The namesake who went ahead.

“The tide that carried them home has carried him home too — and now the family is together on the other shore.”

A Love Story in Motion

Renee & Big John

Three minutes of the two of them — a first date beside a waterfall, and all the years that followed. A love the family watched grow stronger with every year.

Together in this life, and in the next.

Renee and Johnny · 3 minutes 15 seconds

Celebration in Motion

A Film of His Life

Watch a celebration of Big John’s journey, family, strength, laughter, and enduring legacy.

His story lives on in motion.

Celebrating John Leonard Phillips Sr. · 3 minutes 58 seconds

Angie and her father, Johnny — Big John · 32 seconds

A Moment in Motion

Angie & Big John

Thirty-two seconds that say everything — a daughter’s laughter beside her father, captured in a moment the family will treasure forever.

Love like this never fades.

Stories That Live On

Share a Memory of Big John

A living archive of the moments that made him unforgettable.

Help us preserve Big John’s story. Share a memory, photograph, lesson, or moment that you would like his family and future generations to remember.

Memory Wall

“The stories shared here will become part of Big John’s living legacy.”

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Memorial Guestbook

Leave Your Love

Every message is read by the family first and will appear in the Words of Love section below once approved. Thank you for your patience and your love.

Light a Candle for Big John

A quiet symbol of remembrance, gratitude, and love.

— candles have been lit in Big John’s memory.

Words & Wisdom

Pieces of a personality never forgotten.

A husband. A father. A grandfather. A great-grandfather. A Marine. A sharpshooter. A professional driver. A champion boxer. A history maker.

Carry His Story With You

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Invite family and friends to visit, share a memory, and keep Big John’s story alive.

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Memorial QR Code

Place this code on the funeral program so guests can visit Big John’s memorial.

John Leonard Phillips Sr.

February 13, 1940 — September 12, 2026

Forever loved. Forever remembered.

“Those we love don’t go away, they swim beside us every day.”
⌒ 〰 ⌒

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