On Aug. 20, 2017, Llad Phillips, 82, husband, father, grandfather, good friend, professor of economics, avid sailor, and connoisseur of fine wine, aged scotch and excellent tequila, passed away. Llad was born to Schuyler and Onita (Stone) Phillips on Feb. 25, 1935, in McCool Junction, Nebraska, a town settled by his pioneer ancestors. Llad moved to southeast California in the 1940s, ultimately settling down at the ranch where his father was born in Perris, California, and graduating from the same high school his father attended.
After obtaining a degree in nuclear chemistry from UC Berkeley, Llad joined Glenn Seaborg’s lab at UC Berkeley’s Radiation Laboratory, where he worked on the discovery of radioactive isotopes. Perhaps impacted by the electricity of their discoveries at the Rad Lab, Llad fell in love with his colleague, Carolann Rose Rossi, whom he married on June 28, 1958, and with whom he shared 59 years of marriage before her passing in 2016.
Ever open to the next adventure, Llad obtained his doctorate in economics from Harvard University in 1969. Upon graduation, he spent his entire academic career in the Economics Department at the University of California, Santa Barbara. While at UCSB, he published widely on the economics of crime and justice, deterrence, and population demographics with Harold L. Votey Jr. and William S. Comanor, his long-time colleagues and best of friends. In addition to his academic work, Llad served as chair of the Economics Department and provost of the College of Letters of Arts and Science, and co-founded the UCSB Economic Forecast Project.
A great lover of nature and the outdoors, Llad could often be found hiking in the hills above Santa Barbara, backpacking the High Sierras, kayaking and sailing the Pacific Ocean, and experiencing the wonders of the National Parks. In his last week of life, Llad fulfilled his life dream to visit Glacier Bay in Alaska. His family and friends will remember him for his deep love of opera and mariachi bands. Upon retirement, Llad joined the Santa Barbara Sail & Power Squadron, where he served as squadron and district commander.
Llad is survived by his three daughters: Jacqueline Smith, Sharon Phillips and Colleen Phillips, and their spouses; his seven grandchildren: Brian, Sarah, Kyle, Declan, Kieren, Phelan and Gabriel; and his many friends and fellow adventurers.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Stanford University with a note that they’re in memory of Llad Phillips to support Dr. Gregory Heestand’s Research Fund in the School of Medicine.
