New Haven Independent

Voigt, 61, represented the Beaver Hills neighborhood on the Board of Aldermen for the last 11 years. He grew up in the Hill and worked much of his adult life in Yale’s power plant. He rose to top positions in Yale’s blue-collar union, helping organize workers and negotiate contracts that have done more than anything else over the past decades to lift people out of poverty and improve life for working- and middle-class people in Greater New Haven.

Voigt loved people. Getting to know them, cooking for them, debating with them. Anyone who sat with him at a table, whether a dinner table or a negotiating table, knew that. He believed in public service, whether that meant spending long hours poring over the details of municipal budgets or rushing to a constituent’s house to fix her blocked sink. He loved being part of a community, loved working out solutions with people and working through disagreements. He rarely had an unkind word to say about anyone. And he stayed cool under pressure. So when the Board of Aldermen broke into two hostile camps this past term, Voigt managed to remain friends — and work well — with people on both sides.

That alone is an unusual and valuable accomplishment.

Voigt’s wake will be held at Iovanne Funeral Home Friday beginning at 4 p.m. The funeral is Saturday morning at Sacred Heart Church.

Following is the press release issued today by the Board of Aldermen:

PHILIP VOIGT, WESTVILLE ALDERMAN AND FINANCE
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN PASSES AWAY AFTER SHORT ILLNESS

62 year old Army Veteran Leaves Lasting Legacy of Pro-Labor Initiatives.

New Haven- Alderman Philip Voigt (27-D) passed away today after a short illness.

Alderman Voigt a five term alderman, engineer at Yale University’s Department of Utilities and decorated Army veteran was 62 years old.

Since 1994 Alderman Voigt represented the Westville Area of the city between Fountain Street and Whalley Avenue from Osborn Avenue to the Woodbridge Town Line.

During his tenure Alderman Voigt, a long time union activist, spearheaded the enactment of a living wage ordinance and efforts to retain U.S. Repeating Arms jobs in New Haven. Currently, he was working on a law to prohibit access to vehicles by persons arrested for driving under the influence during the 24 hours after the arrest.

He served on numerous boards and commissions of the city and for the past six years served as chairman of the aldermanic Finance Committee, after four years as chair of the Human Services Committee.

He served as chair of the Coliseum Authority and also represented New Haven nationally as a member of the University Cities Committee of the National League of Cities which focuses on improving relationships between universities and host cities.

Ald. Voigt was married to Susan Voigt, Democratic Party Town Chairman and is survived by her, his son Carlos and his three daughters Clara Rose, Chloe, and Claudia.

Arrangements are being handled by the Iovanne Funeral Home.