Philip John Escobedo

Philip John Escobedo, age 34, passed into glory on Thursday, December 23, 2021, in Roswell, New Mexico. Please take a moment to share a kind thought or memory with the Escobedo family at www.andersonbethany.com. VISITATION: There will be a visitation on Thursday, January 6, 2022, 8:00am – 5:00pm and Friday, January 7, 2022, 8:00am – 2:00pm, at Anderson Bethany Funeral Home, 2609 S. Main St., Roswell, N.M. Funeral services will be at Anderson Bethany Funeral Home on Friday, January 7, 2022, at 2:00pm, with Chaplin Tim Arlet officiating. Burial will follow immediately at South Park Cemetery, 3101 S. Main Street with a reception to be held at the Eagles Club, 3201 Sunset, 4:00pm – 6:00pm. Philip was born on May 13, 1987, to John and Teresa Escobedo in Roswell, New Mexico. He attended schools in Roswell graduating from RHS in 2005. While at RHS Philip became involved in Band and Drama where he gained an appreciation for theater and performing before crowds of admiring fans. Philip had studied piano under Mike Lively who taught him how to read and play from sheet music. Philip absorbed the lessons and as a young hungry protégé would have it, Philip taught himself to read and play more advanced selections. Quickly, Philip pushed himself to learn and play at an incredible pace. Soon he learned to play the sheet music of “classical” composers such as: Bach, Beethoven, Schubert, Enya and numerous Broadway scores and was on his way to performing mini concerts on his baby grand piano for family and friends at private family recitals. Philip’s love of discovery and desire to seek out new adventures led him to Albuquerque for a “big city” experience. Here, Philip found the world of computers, video games and the creative freedom to dabble in computer programming. Once again Philip would draw upon his self-starter mentality to teach himself C++ programming language to create his own video and entertainment games. Still, Philip wanted more to satisfy his love for theater and video game design. Philip courageously began his entrepreneurial gamesmanship with his own YouTube channel called “Silentphill” where he successfully developed 1.5 thousand narrated videos of 100% guided walk-throughs and blind play-throughs for all levels of gamers. Ultimately Philip’s YouTube followers would grow to 3.68 thousand subscribers and 3.3 million worldwide views. At age 25 and armed with a hunger for theater Philip packed up his belongings and moved to New York City for a life in the fast-paced Broadway district! With the assistance of caring friends in the theater district Philip gained employment as an usher at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theater’s award winning Broadway musical “Come From Away”. Philip especially enjoyed the memorable interactions and embraces with emotional audience members and the comradery shared amongst co-workers, casts members and support staff after every show. Still Philip remained anxious to learn more about video gaming and enrolled at Full Sail University where he graduated as class valedictorian with a BS degree in Video Game Design on October 30, 2015. In addition to graduating with high honors Philip was recognized for outstanding achievement in video game design and studies in video gaming. After graduation, Philip continued ushering at the Shubert organization while working for Tapinator as a Unity Developer, for Katapult as a Game Designer, and wrote game guides for GameFAQs. Yes, yes, yes indeed, Philip remained a busy body. Always looking for new games to conquer, always planning ahead for what he wanted to do next, responding to his YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and other social media followers, and constantly keeping in touch with family and friends. All the while Philip indulged himself in two favorite past times: learning to speak Japanese (because he loved the Japanese culture, food and the origins of the Nintendo gaming systems) and building elaborate Lego sets complete with controllers, game cards and connectors. On December 27, 2016 Philip experienced a seizure that sent him to the emergency room. It was determined that he had a Glioblastoma Multiforme Grade 4 cancerous brain tumor the size of a marble that was partially removed in January 2017. For three years Philip enjoyed relief and remained optimistic that a prolonged cure would be manifested. The tumor became aggressive after a second brain surgery was performed in September 2020 to excise the tumor. Unfortunately, the tumor mutated six months later and doctors determined it was too close to the brain and feared causing permanent brain damage so, they removed what they could and opted for an experimental treatment that could prolong Philip’s life. For five years Philip courageously battled through the pain and daily struggles as the tumor gradually weakened his seemingly tireless body. After the doctors and professionals did all they could through the surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation and experimental treatments Philip graciously decided to return home to be with his loving family for comfort and spiritual healing. After the cancer retired the left side of his body Philip maintained mobility using the right side to move about. During his remaining days Philip enjoyed storytelling time with family, hearing about the plays he and his cousins would write and perform, and of course, Philip would direct. When he built up enough strength Philip built Lego structures and games, played the keyboard, watched home movies, took in some Harry Potter books and movies, and listened to Bible stories from his uncle. The family is eternally grateful that God gave Philip an extra five years of life to enjoy and spend with family and were amazed at how hard Philip fought, how graceful he was in handling the suffering and pain, and how peaceful and calm he was in taking his earthly last breath: for as God’s Word teaches us in Colossians 2:5 “for though I be absent in the flesh, I am with you in the spirit”. For Philip, his time on earth is completed and his new life began in Heaven on December 23, 2021. Now, Philip is present with Jesus whom he accepted as his Lord and Savior on the evening before his passing. SURVIVORS: Those left to eternally treasure and cherish loving memories of Philip are his parents: father, John Escobedo; mother, Teresa Escobedo; sister, Shawnee Escobedo; nephews Jesiah and Avidan Escobedo; grandmother, Victoria Escobedo; paternal aunts Belinda (Tim) Cavanaugh of Albuquerque, NM; Diana (Ryc) Velasquez; Chrissy Walker; uncle, Rick (Melanie) Escobedo of Denver, Co.; and maternal aunts Janice and Debbie Keithley; and uncles, Gale and Eddie Keithley all of Missouri. Philip is also survived by numerous aunts, uncles and cousins from the extended Escobedo, Velasquez, and Keithley families. PRECEDED: Philip is preceded in death by paternal grandfather, Bernardino “Bernie”Escobedo; maternal grandparents Jack and Shirley Keithley; and aunt Joyce Bolin. PALLBEARERS: Honored to serve as pallbearers are uncles: Rick Escobedo, Ryc Velasquez, and Tim Cavanaugh; cousins: Nicolas Escobedo of Denver, Co., Carlos Marrujo of Roswell, NM, and Jason Pellegren of Missouri. HONORARY PALLBEARERS: Blessed to be named as honorary pallbearers are: cousin, Dr. Nathan Furst-Nichols of Gardenville NV, and Cast and Staff from Broadway’s “Come From Away”. The Escobedo family would like to extend a sincere thank you to all the doctors, nurses and specialists that provided medical care and treatment to Philip during his illness and especially to Kindred Hospice and Nurse Maureen for their gentleness, kindness and expressions of loving support. This tribute was lovingly prepared by members of the family.

Philip John Escobedo

May 13, 1987 - December 23, 2021