A Life Story

Phyllis Jean Packert, a dedicated educator, passionate community volunteer, and beloved matriarch, passed away peacefully on June 24, 2026, in Savannah, Georgia. Raised in Hinsdale, New York, Phyllis developed a lifelong commitment to learning early on. She pursued her higher education at Bowling Green State University and Hofstra University, laying the academic foundation for what would become a highly impactful career. She began her journey in education teaching in the Uniondale School District and at the community college level, eventually moving into administration. For 30 years, Phyllis served as a public-school administrator in New York, where her leadership, sharp mind, and dedication left a lasting legacy on countless students, teachers, and school communities. In 1979, Phyllis married Pat Carlino. Together, they shared a beautiful life, eventually moving to The Landings on Skidaway Island in 1992 to begin an active retirement chapter in Savannah. Retirement did not slow Phyllis down; instead, she redirected her formidable energy toward enriching her new community. Deeply committed to service, she volunteered extensively throughout the Savannah area. She shared her love for local history and architecture as a docent at the historic Davenport House Museum and spent years changing lives firsthand by tutoring local youth, offering them patient guidance and a positive path forward. Phyllis was equally vibrant in her social and recreational life at The Landings. An avid golfer, she lent her leadership skills to the Landings Golf Committee. In more recent years, she brought her competitive spirit, sharp wit, and trademark enthusiasm to the courts, proudly captaining her bocce team. Above all, Phyllis was devoted to her family. She was preceded in death by her husband of 46 years, Pat Carlino, and her daughter, Wendy Held. She is survived by her son, Kenneth Packert, and his wife, Beth; her stepsons, William Carlino and his wife, Leeann, and Bruce Carlino and his wife, Ginny; and her brother, Kenneth Fairfield. She remains a guiding light to her ten cherished grandchildren, Natalie, Leland, Abigail, Faye, Aaron, Theodore, Kathryn, Peter, Alexandra, and Danielle, as well as her two great-grandchildren, all of whom will forever remember her strength, intellect, and generous heart. A celebration of Phyllis’s remarkable life will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Phyllis’s honor to the Humane Society for Greater Savannah (humanesocietysav.org), carrying forward her lifelong spirit of community care and her love for animals