SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- Phyllis E. "Philly" Dake, philanthropist and wife of Charles S. Dake, who together ran Saratoga Dairy and what is now the Stewart Shops convenience store chain, died peacefully at her home in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., after a battle with Huntington's Disease. She was 85.
She became executive vice president of Stewart's Shops and was a key leader in the company for 50 years.
"Philly's role at Stewart's was game changing," the company said in a tribute posted on the company's website (click here to view the full tribute). "She was a natural philanthropist. She taught us the value of community involvement, and created a culture of giving that continues on today in Stewart's Shops communities."
In 1999, she created the MYO college scholarship program to help the children of Stewart's employees Make Their Own Scholarship. Since its inception, it has awarded almost $2 million to 211 children of Stewart's employees. She also made sure the MYO Scholarship program will continue.
In 2002, she funded the Phyllis E. Dake Foundation.
Her charitable efforts included the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, the Saratoga Hospital, WMHT, Albany Medical Center, the Saratoga, YMCA, Cornell University, Camp Chingachgook, the University Foundation at Albany, The Adirondack Girl Scout Council and Siena College, among many others.
She also created a second foundation with a third of her estate so her generosity will benefit the community for years to come, the company said.
She received numerous awards for her philanthropy and leadership.
Stewart's credits Dake with the idea to allow customers to make their own sundaes in 1947, the company told The Albany Times-Union. The company's Philly Vanilla ice cream is named after her, it said.
She was the sister-in-law of Bill Dake, Stewart's Shops' chairman of the board, and aunt of Gary Dake, Stewart's Shops's president.
Dake is survived by four children, six grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Saratoga Springs-based Stewart's Shops is an employee- and family-owned dairy c-store chain. It is known for milk, ice cream, coffee, food to go, gasoline and more. There are 328 Stewart's Shops located in more than 30 counties across upstate New York and southern Vermont.
CSP sends condolences to her family, her friends and her colleagues.
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