Obituary for Philip Eugene Juliano
Juliano, Philip E. - 75, of Atlantic City, passed away peacefully at home on August 24th, 2023, surrounded by family and loved ones. Phil was born and raised in his beloved Ducktown neighborhood of Atlantic City. Phil grew up playing baseball, basketball, and football in the various neighborhoods of Atlantic City, forming deep friendships with people of all walks of life. He went on to achieve incredible success in the casino industry, all while pursuing other passions like captaining championship softball teams, serving as a racquetball head pro, and designing athletic uniforms.
A graduate of Holy Spirit High School and LaSalle University, Phil began his professional career not in the casino industry, but as a teacher and coach. After a brief stint at Pleasantville High School, Phil moved to Atlantic City High School, teaching history, and eventually coaching the Varsity Baseball team for a four-year period. Phil’s teams achieved historic success and many of his players went on to collegiate and professional careers. Many of those players have remained lifelong friends and business associates for over fifty years.
As Atlantic City casinos began to open in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, Phil saw an opportunity to grow his career and better support his young family. Over a racquetball game with a prominent casino executive, Phil made the bold request to become a casino host. His first role was at the Tropicana, and he spent the next several years moving up in the ranks at various Atlantic City properties, eventually rising to Vice President of Marketing at the Showboat Casino & Hotel in 1988, where he flourished in his role for a decade. Phil’s contributions to the casino gaming industry extended to other regions of the country like Chicagoland and New England in the early 2000’s before finding his way back to his roots in Atlantic City.
Phil’s greatest career success came with the final chapter: Bally’s Corporation. In 2009, he took over as Vice President of Marketing for a property in Rhode Island called Twin River, which was coming out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy. What became of this single, struggling property, was a public company re-branded as Bally’s upon the acquisition of the flagship property in Phil’s hometown of Atlantic City. Returned to his hometown, Phil helped to beautify the property with a $100 million reinvestment while helping the company grow to 15 casino properties across the country and Phil being promoted to Executive Vice President of Casino Operations and Chief Marketing Officer.
Throughout his entire life and career, Phil excelled by creating and nurturing relationships both with his young team as well as his peers and mentors, which he valued tremendously. With his young team, which included his son, Paul, Phil was able to inject his wisdom, compassion, creativity, humor, and a results-oriented approach. Phil’s love of his craft and tireless work ethic will undoubtedly serve as an inspiration for those he taught, coached, and mentored inside and outside of the industry. With his peers and mentors, Phil remained intimate friends and confidants for decades as they navigated life and business together.
Phil had incredible passion and relentless drive to succeed, but he had even more passion for his role as a Husband, Father, and Pop-Pop, which is where he truly excelled. His wife, Lisa, was the light of his life. She loved Phil deeply and supported him ardently and, in turn, he gave her all the love he had to give. His children Tony (Gladys), Paul (Tiffany), Dana, and Michael were a great source of motivation and pride for Phil, as he strove to show them the example of how to achieve success and happiness in work, life, and relationships. He absolutely cherished his grandchildren Mia, Fiona, and Jett, who loved their time with Pop-Pop, whether it was outside in the pool, trips to Target, or watching his beloved Philadelphia Eagles.
Phil’s friends were also like family. There were countless days and nights of laughing, joking, dancing, and listening to his favorite tunes. Rod Stewart, Andrea Bocelli, Billy Joel, and all the Motown hits of his youth, many songs of which were introduced to him by his good friend, “The Geator with the Heater”, “The Boss with the Hot Sauce”, Mr. Jerry Blavat. Many of these nights were spent out back by the pool while others were spent long after sunset on the beach with Phil and Lisa’s amazing friends. Phil did not come into the world with any brothers, but he leaves with many.
Phil is predeceased by his parents Philip B. Juliano and Jeanne T. Juliano (Colloty). Phil is also survived by his Mother-In-Law, Rita Mihalitsch, his sisters, Patty (Richard) Miller and Marie (David) Riffel, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Visitation will be held at St. Gianna Beretta Molla Parish from 9:30am until 12:00pm followed by Catholic Mass at 12:00pm on Thursday, August 31st, 2023. Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery in Mays Landing. Donations in Phil’s name to can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital or to Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Arrangements by and condolences at www.adams-perfect.com.
A graduate of Holy Spirit High School and LaSalle University, Phil began his professional career not in the casino industry, but as a teacher and coach. After a brief stint at Pleasantville High School, Phil moved to Atlantic City High School, teaching history, and eventually coaching the Varsity Baseball team for a four-year period. Phil’s teams achieved historic success and many of his players went on to collegiate and professional careers. Many of those players have remained lifelong friends and business associates for over fifty years.
As Atlantic City casinos began to open in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, Phil saw an opportunity to grow his career and better support his young family. Over a racquetball game with a prominent casino executive, Phil made the bold request to become a casino host. His first role was at the Tropicana, and he spent the next several years moving up in the ranks at various Atlantic City properties, eventually rising to Vice President of Marketing at the Showboat Casino & Hotel in 1988, where he flourished in his role for a decade. Phil’s contributions to the casino gaming industry extended to other regions of the country like Chicagoland and New England in the early 2000’s before finding his way back to his roots in Atlantic City.
Phil’s greatest career success came with the final chapter: Bally’s Corporation. In 2009, he took over as Vice President of Marketing for a property in Rhode Island called Twin River, which was coming out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy. What became of this single, struggling property, was a public company re-branded as Bally’s upon the acquisition of the flagship property in Phil’s hometown of Atlantic City. Returned to his hometown, Phil helped to beautify the property with a $100 million reinvestment while helping the company grow to 15 casino properties across the country and Phil being promoted to Executive Vice President of Casino Operations and Chief Marketing Officer.
Throughout his entire life and career, Phil excelled by creating and nurturing relationships both with his young team as well as his peers and mentors, which he valued tremendously. With his young team, which included his son, Paul, Phil was able to inject his wisdom, compassion, creativity, humor, and a results-oriented approach. Phil’s love of his craft and tireless work ethic will undoubtedly serve as an inspiration for those he taught, coached, and mentored inside and outside of the industry. With his peers and mentors, Phil remained intimate friends and confidants for decades as they navigated life and business together.
Phil had incredible passion and relentless drive to succeed, but he had even more passion for his role as a Husband, Father, and Pop-Pop, which is where he truly excelled. His wife, Lisa, was the light of his life. She loved Phil deeply and supported him ardently and, in turn, he gave her all the love he had to give. His children Tony (Gladys), Paul (Tiffany), Dana, and Michael were a great source of motivation and pride for Phil, as he strove to show them the example of how to achieve success and happiness in work, life, and relationships. He absolutely cherished his grandchildren Mia, Fiona, and Jett, who loved their time with Pop-Pop, whether it was outside in the pool, trips to Target, or watching his beloved Philadelphia Eagles.
Phil’s friends were also like family. There were countless days and nights of laughing, joking, dancing, and listening to his favorite tunes. Rod Stewart, Andrea Bocelli, Billy Joel, and all the Motown hits of his youth, many songs of which were introduced to him by his good friend, “The Geator with the Heater”, “The Boss with the Hot Sauce”, Mr. Jerry Blavat. Many of these nights were spent out back by the pool while others were spent long after sunset on the beach with Phil and Lisa’s amazing friends. Phil did not come into the world with any brothers, but he leaves with many.
Phil is predeceased by his parents Philip B. Juliano and Jeanne T. Juliano (Colloty). Phil is also survived by his Mother-In-Law, Rita Mihalitsch, his sisters, Patty (Richard) Miller and Marie (David) Riffel, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Visitation will be held at St. Gianna Beretta Molla Parish from 9:30am until 12:00pm followed by Catholic Mass at 12:00pm on Thursday, August 31st, 2023. Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery in Mays Landing. Donations in Phil’s name to can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital or to Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Arrangements by and condolences at www.adams-perfect.com.