Philip Carlin was a man of deep knowledge, and his children knew they could depend on him not only for interesting tidbits of general information but for encouragement and sage advice about life.A longtime Morgan Park resident, Carlin earned three academic degrees from Loyola University-Chicago, where he was a professor for 25 years. For him, each phase of life was a chance to learn and grow.Sadly, his children will now face the next chapters of their lives without him, as family and friends mourn Carlin, 88, who died May 9 after a brief illness.A World War II U.S. Navy veteran, Carlin loved to teach, his family said. He had also worked as an assistant principal and principal. In his later years, he delved into acting.His loved ones are dealing with their loss by remembering his zest for life and willingness to try new things."He was the smartest guy I know; that's the truth," his daughter Carolyn O'Donnell said at his funeral services on May 13. "Before Google, there was my dad. My mother said one of the reasons she married my dad was because he was the only person she met who was smarter than she was."Described by his family as "a true renaissance man" and "a gentleman and a scholar," Carlin grew up on the South Side and resided in the parishes of St. Clotilde Church and St. Columbanus Church.Carlin and his wife, Mary (McInerney), were married for over 50 years before she died in 2009, his family said, after a 10-year battle with Alzheimer's disease. Even during those difficult times, Phil's love for Mary never waned, his family said, and each day, he took her for strolls in her wheelchair and serenaded her with Irish songs.Carlin, a St. Ignatius High School alumnus, moved to Morgan Park in 1965, his family said, and his four children graduated from St. Cajetan Elementary School.At Loyola, Carlin was a professor in educational administration, instructing many students who went on to successful careers, including several principals at St. Ignatius.He also taught at Loyola's John Felice Rome Center in Italy for many summers and possessed a love of history, especially the Roman Empire.In the 1960s, Carlin helped open and became principal of the John T. Pirie Fine Arts and Academics Center, a Chicago Public School at 650 E. 85th St. He had previously served as assistant principal at Bogan High School and as a teacher at Bowen High School.In recent years, he was associate professor emeritus in educational leadership and policy studies at Loyola.After Carlin earned his doctoral degree, his family said, certain relatives and colleagues lovingly referred to Carlin as "Dr. Phil." Some had a more precise nickname: I.W., the initials for "Infinite Wisdom."As a Morgan Park resident, Carlin brought a wealth of skills to a variety of local organizations, including the first local school council at Clissold Elementary School.Carlin began his acting career in 1995 with the Joliet Drama Guild in "Prelude to a Kiss." He was a member of the Beverly Theatre Guild, and during his years as an actor, Carlin performed in over 50 plays, his family said, at venues that included the Beverly Arts Center.When O'Donnell requested a final curtain call for her father at his funeral, the audience responded with emotional applause and a standing ovation.Although Carlin was a fount of knowledge, his family said, he was not one to dominate a conversation. His son Philip said Carlin's patience made him an ideal father and friend."My father was a world champion in listening," Philip said. "He got plenty of practice. His four children were on the talkative side."Philip said he always knew where to go for advice."If I had a problem, I'd go to my dad first," he said. "We had tens of thousands of great conversations, and I'm going to miss his sage counsel, his sense of humor and his endless worldly knowledge. The first duty of love is to listen. I'm going to miss my dad listening to me."Carlin took joy in fatherhood. For the birth of each of his children, who also include Cathi and Cynthia, he created a "diploma" that looked real and welcomed the newborn into the "College of Carlin."For his family, Carlin was an ideal role model."We lucky four were in his master's class of life," O'Donnell said. "He loved teaching, and his lessons were simple—he taught by example."My dad was a family man. There was never a question of his love for us. We are in awe of his seemingly endless reserve of kindness, patience and energy."Carlin's service in World War II earned him recognition by Honor Flight Chicago, and he was flown with other veterans to Washington, D.C., in 2013 for ceremonies and visits to national monuments.Upon landing in Chicago, Carlin and the veterans were welcomed at the airport by the cheers of supporters.He was also honored that year as the grand marshal of the Memorial Day parade in Beverly/Morgan Park.Carlin's daughter Cathi Hogan, of Morgan Park, said she admired many aspects of his life. In his later years, Carlin served as a tour guide on Lake Michigan, part of his effort to remain busy and, according to Hogan, "stay relevant" by contributing to society.Her admiration for her father, she said, was endless."There was never a time I didn't think he was the greatest thing."After the death of his wife, Carlin moved to Smith Village, a life plan senior community in Morgan Park. Although it took him time to adjust to leaving the family's home, Hogan said, Carlin grew comfortable and made close friends. Hogan said her father became friends with nurses and maintenance workers, and he also became a pen pal with a kindergarten student at St. Cajetan Elementary School, Finn McGee.McGee and many people from Smith Village attended his wake.They liked him, Hogan said. "He was a character."At Smith Village, Carlin helped form the Village Players, a small troupe that performed short plays. Just days before his death, Carlin attended a performance of the Village Players, and he was honored after the show.Carlin wore many hats in his life, O'Donnell said, and his family will always cherish his uncompromising love."He put us in the right situations that we were not necessarily comfortable in, but because he believed in us, we believed in ourselves," O'Donnell said. "He was so brilliant with fostering our independence by showing us our potential—the embodiment of teaching a man to fish."Carlin is survived by his children, Cathleen (Thomas) Hogan, Cynthia Carlin, Philip Carlin and Carolyn (Mark) O'Donnell; and his grandchildren, Timothy and Patrick Hogan, and Owen and Quinn O'Donnell.Funeral services were held May 13 at St. Cajetan Church. Interment followed at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Loyola University Chicago School of Education, Office of Advancement, 820 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago IL 60611, or Smith Village, 2320 W. 113th Pl., Chicago, IL 60643.