Philip Rocco Mollica Jr. (Phil), 83, of Vero Beach, Florida, formerly of Bergen County, New Jersey and Orange County, New York passed away on Wednesday, July 17, 2024 surrounded by his loving family.

Phil proudly served in the Army from 1960-1963 following graduation from Ridgewood High School, Ridgewood, New Jersey in 1959. He had a distinguished career at ABC Sports as a television field engineer for 38 and a half years. His work included televising the Olympics, the Indy 500, the Super Bowl, the Kentucky Derby, and more. In 1972, he had the honor of traveling to China with President Nixon. A highlight of Phil's career was working with the Monday Night Football crew, where he made lifelong friendships and memories.

After ABC Sports, Phil worked for the YES Network and SportsNet NY. His greatest passion was being a ham radio operator, first as K2UVC then W2AR. Phil was a licensed extra class ham radio operator, a lifetime member of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), and a SKYWARN spotter for the national weather service for East Central Florida. He served as President of the Amateur Ham Radio Club in Vero Beach for the past six years, and was extensively involved with the search teams following hurricanes via communications. Phil was also a member of the Loyal Order of Moose and the Italian American Club, both in Vero Beach.

Phil was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Philip Sr. and Rose, and his son, Gary Mollica.

He is survived by his beloved daughter, Sandra and her husband Paul, his son Philip III (Phil), and his loving brother Robert (Bob). Phil is also survived by his grandchildren Joshua, Racheal and Ava Mollica, along with his great granddaughters, Lilly and Cassie. His former wife Cleo, helped care for him along with their daughter Sandra. Wife, Patricia also survives him.

Phil will be missed by all who knew him, especially for his laugh and his unique way of rating a good Italian meal by the number of sneezes it elicited.

Donations to the Vero Beach Amateur Radio Club (VBARC) at 4225 43rd Ave., Vero Beach, Florida 32967 would be greatly appreciated.

Please sign a guestbook at watsonfuneralservices.com.

Watson Funeral Services and Crematory, 2300 Hwy 378, Conway, SC is serving the family.