Philip (Phil) A. Lepanto

December 26, 1972 – July 19, 2026

Phil Lepanto, 53, of Seattle, Washington, passed away suddenly near the summit of Mt. St. Helens on July 19, 2026, from complications of undiagnosed, asymptomatic coronary artery disease.

Phil was born in Philadelphia in 1972 to Dr. Philip B. and Rebecca S. Lepanto. He subsequently moved with his family to Louisville, Kentucky, near his parents’ extended families, and later to Huntington, West Virginia, in 1979. He graduated from Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia, and went on to attend Vanderbilt University, where he pursued a double major in political science and history. Phil’s work in student government and at the community radio station WRVU deepened his belief that communication across divides could help save the world.

After graduating, Phil built a wide-ranging career pursuing his passion for community, technology, and entrepreneurship. He moved to Washington, D.C., where he worked in politics, served as partner and chief technology officer at Connections Media, was elected as a commissioner on Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1D, and owned and operated a neighborhood hardware store. Perhaps most emblematic of his spirit was his role as an Angel Investor with K Street Capital, where he championed people and ideas with generosity, curiosity, and conviction. Most recently, he served as VP of Customer Success at cybersecurity company DigitSec. Across every chapter of life, Phil put down deep roots in the communities where he lived and dedicated himself to advancing the well-being and dreams of those fortunate enough to land in his circle of care.

Phil met the love of his life, Katie Swanson, in 2003, and they married in 2008. She was his closest companion and the center of the life they shared. His passing was far too soon, but we take comfort in knowing the life he lived was lived to its fullest. Phil was never one to do things halfway. He loved sailing, so he became a captain. He loved skiing, so he became a Level 1 certified instructor in Alpine and Telemark. He loved beer, so he grew hops in his yard and brewed his own.

But most of all, Phil loved Katie and the life they made for themselves. He was proud of Katie’s work with USAID and the time they spent in El Salvador supporting it. They moved to Seattle in 2019, where he felt especially at home in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Together they continued to pursue their many passions—whether skiing, sailing, hiking with their beloved dog Bruno, or strapping on 50-pound packs and summiting Mt. Adams. They were truly partners in life, and with Phil’s death, Katie loses a part of herself.

His absence will also be felt deeply by the many loved ones he leaves behind. To know him was to love him. Phil was funny, kind, generous, and endlessly enthusiastic—not only about exploring his many interests but about sharing his curiosity with others. He was a natural-born teacher and guide. Phil was a loving husband, son, son-in-law, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, nephew, cousin, and friend. Inspired by his father-in-law’s need for platelets, Phil became a regular platelet donor, an act of generosity that, along with countless others, came from a desire to help rather than to be recognized. As a friend, there was no one better to spend time with on the water, on a mountain, or watching the sunset with a beer in hand. His friends and family will miss his deep laugh and up-for-anything attitude.

Phil died as he lived: in friendship and in nature, taking on the challenge of his next adventure.

Phil is survived by his wife, Katie; his parents, Becky and Phil; his sister, Liz (Rich Seltenrich); and his nephews Leo, Oskar, Johann (Seltenrich), and Henry (Swanson). He is also lovingly remembered by many extended family members in Louisville, along with Katie’s parents, Carol and Ken Swanson, and her brother, Robbie (Brooke).

A Celebration of Life for Phil will be held for family and friends in early October.

If you wish to send expressions of sympathy, the family invites donations to The Family Heart Foundation, the American Heart Association, The Mountaineers, or a charity of your choice. You may also consider a blood or platelet donation in Phil’s memory.