Teen Who Died After Storm Remembered For Work Ethic, Smile

Phillip Oseredzuk was known for his smile, his love of flannels, and his landscaping business.

While the 16-year-old’s life may have been cut short when he was swept from a kayak into the Mill Creek in Middletown’s Levittown section following a storm last Wednesday, his legacy will live on in the community.

During a vigil last Thursday at the ballfields in his hometown of Penndel, about 200 friends, family, and peers of Phillip’s gathered to remember the well-liked Neshaminy High School student.

“My son was my best friend,” said the elder Phillip Oseredzuk. “I miss him more than anything.”

Starting when he was about 13, Phillip began his landscaping business that had grown to more than 50 customers. In the hours before the accident that would claim his life, the seemingly larger-than-life teen had been tending to the lawns of customers in the Levittown area.

Jonathan Van Horn had only started using Phil’s Landscaping recently but was blown away by Phillip’s professionalism and positive attitude.

“He was the most polite, mature, and well-balanced kid I’ve ever seen,” Van Horn said.

Jason Green, the owner of Jay’s Steak and Hoagie Joint in Middletown’s Parkland section, had known Phillip for the past few years and watched his business take off.

“In three short years, he grew his business to over 55 lawns, was incorporated and insured, and only a sophomore in high school,” Green said. “He had an amazing drive to grow it 10 times more.”

Brian Garrison, Phillip’s uncle, watched the teen grow up and saw how he quickly turned his landscaping service from a hobby to a full-fledged business.

“He started piecing the business together about three years ago,” Garrison said. “He started with a small tractor, kept on growing, saved money, and would find used tractors and lawn mower equipment online. He would fix them in the garage.”

“He just had an awesome way about him. He wanted to get out of there and work. He was very determined.”

Phillip’s father, who has the same name, said while greeting his son’s upset friends that he was impressed with his son’s fledgling business and his work ethic.

Aside from his business, Phillip enjoyed riding quads, spending time outdoors, and fishing just like his dad.

Growing up and continuing into high school, Phillip played ice hockey with the Grundy Grizzlies, Grundy Senators, and with Neshaminy High School.

“The Grundy Senators were blessed to have been graced by Phil Oseredzuk’s big heart and inviting personality. It is truly the mark of wonderful parents. Every bit of our hearts go out to the Oseredzuk family at this most difficult time. Forever in our hearts,” the Senators said in a statement.

Two friends, who didn’t wish to have their name published, gathered on a footbridge off Snowball Drive near the site of the tragic accident last Thursday. They told LevittownNow.com that their friend was known around school for often wearing flannel clothing. On Friday, students held a “Flannel for Phil” event where several hundred high schoolers donned flannel to remember their classmate.

Several friends said they will remember his smile and hope his business continues.

“Phillip was such a good kid. We used to say he was just born with an old soul. He could talk to adults like he was one and to kids, too. He made friends with people of every age,” his uncle Garrison recalled.

Authorities said that Phillip was in the storm-swollen Mill Creek with a teenage friend last Wednesday evening when he fell out of the kayak. The raging creek swept him under the water. Fire crews from multiple towns rushed to the area and pulled Phillip from the water, performing CPR as they rushed him to a waiting ambulance. He was taken to St. Mary Medical Center and then to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia where he succumbed to his injuries early the next morning.

A firefighter who went in the creek to rescue Phillip was taken to the hospital for treatment and released.

Phillip, who will be buried later this week, is survived by his parents and sister Jaclyn, three of his grandparents, a great-grandmother, and a number of aunts, uncles, and cousins.