Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Phyllis was the youngest child of beloved parents, Percival Tillinghast and Mary Emma MacNaughton. Sister of Carol and Lad, Phyllis discovered at an early age the power of imagination, the company of books, and above all, the great gift of friendship.
Phyllis attended Laurel School in Cleveland and then went on to Vassar College where her mother, a singer, was class of 1912. Following in her mother’s footsteps, Phyllis (Class of ‘51) also distinguished herself as a performing artist there. The college’s prestigious drama department cast Phyllis in the most demanding roles and she rose to the challenge.
The rigorous training she received at Vassar prepared her for a spot in the resident company of The Cleveland Playhouse. After three years at the Playhouse, Phyllis traveled to NYC, auditioned, and won a Kinsman Trust full scholarship to study at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
Among her peers at RADA were Peter O’Toole and Albert Finney.
Upon returning to Cleveland from London, Phyllis met and, after seven dates, married WWll veteran Richard Lee McBride in 1956. The couple moved to New York where Dick began his career at Milliken and Co., and they started a family living in a small, historic house known as the Wishing Well in Rye Brook. They would later move to their Grace Church Street family home in Rye where they lived for more than 50 years.
The center of life in Rye for Phyllis and Dick was the Rye Presbyterian Church, and both were active in their church all their lives. During the turbulence of the 1960s, the couple was drawn to the church’s gifted pastor, The Rev. Joseph P. Bishop. For more than 30 years at RPC, Phyllis sang in the chancel choir and faithfully shared her remarkable theater training with her church community.
As a lector in worship, Phyllis brought the word to life. As a director, Phyllis put on the annual Christmas Pageant teaching countless youth over the years to play a role and speak for an audience. This Nativity play with a live baby Jesus, narrators, carols, glittering young angels, teen shepherd boys, and adult kings, started off with Joseph and Mary leading a live pony down the aisle of the church.
In the early ’80s at RPC, she also directed local teens in Shakespeare plays adapted by 1950s Rye teacher, Al Cullum. Phyllis further served her church as Sunday school teacher, thrift shop co-founder, deacon, and member of the session.
In time, Phyllis built a second career as a professional storyteller through the Westchester Council of the Arts. She was hired to perform from memory classic stories of courage, love, and sacrifice like “The Happy Prince” or “The Wave” for large groups of school children or women’s groups across the county.
Playing all the characters, Phyllis made the story come alive for listeners of all ages.
An avid reader, a recounter of history, and responsible citizen, Phyllis remained informed about global issues. She demonstrated her love of history and country at the local level by being involved in Rye civic events.
Most notably, in 1976, Phyllis directed the elaborate Rye Bicentennial celebration casting Rye’s professional actors as revolutionary figures come to life. With enduring faith in democracy, Phyllis, at age 90, recited the Declaration of Independence for Rye’s Fourth of July Celebration held at The Osborn in 2019.
A weekly volunteer at Port Chester Head Start and previously the Carver Center, Phyllis enthusiastically read aloud to groups of young children into her upper 80s. Through reading, she helped cultivate community with children, parents, and teachers in Port Chester.
Twelve grandchildren were also the lucky listeners to their Nana reading to them.
A born hostess, Phyllis loved to cook and entertain family and friends. Partnering with Dick, she created a lovely setting for family holidays, parties with friends, and annual garden Easter egg hunts. For decades, the growing McBride family enjoyed gathering at the Manursing Island Club to mark important occasions.
An enduring passion for Phyllis and her husband, Dick, was gardening. In their retirement, they enjoyed visiting gardens and historic sites abroad, and together they continued to beautify their property.
At Wave Hill, Phyllis served as a docent guiding groups through their magnificent gardens, and she and Dick especially enjoyed personal tours of their children’s gardens. While living at The Osborn, each summer Phyllis helped create and tend a community terrace garden for all to enjoy.
Phyllis’s main legacy was her love of people. Those who came into her presence were greeted with a radiant smile and felt welcomed and cherished. She was keen to learn about the other person and was ready to share in his or her experience.
Pouring her love and energy into her family, Phyllis fully supported the talents and interests of her children and many grandchildren. She had a tremendous gift of lifting up others and will be forever adored and missed by her family and friends.
Phyllis was predeceased in 2009 by her devoted husband of 53 years, Richard Lee McBride. She is survived by their three children, Richard (Angeles Pedemonte Araoz), Gay (Howard Kraft), and Phoebe (Thomas Madden), and 12 beloved grandchildren, two wonderful great grandchildren, and 14 loving nieces and nephews, and their families.
A memorial service for Phyllis celebrating her long and blessed life will be held on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 2 p.m. at the Rye Presbyterian Church, followed by a reception in the church Assembly Hall.
In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made in Phyllis’ name to Rye Presbyterian Church for a tree to be planted in her memory.