San Rafael, CA
Graham Hardy McPhail II (85) passed away peacefully following a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease on July 2,2024 at home in San Rafael surrounded by his beloved wife of 58 years, Alda, daughter Heather, son Scott, and three family dogs (Oski, Archie, and Ginger) spread across his bed.

Graham was born on April 29, 1939 at Ross Hospital to Graham McPhail and Vera McPhail (Manetta) and attended San Rafael public schools, graduating from San Rafael High School in 1957. He received a B.A. from Chico State University and then served in the Air Force as a Reservist who was called up for active duty during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.

Graham’s family has been actively involved in the Marin business community for over 100 years. His grandfather, Neil McPhail, arrived in Marin in 1884, emigrating from Scotland via Prince Edward Island, Canada. Neil started a successful livery stable business in San Rafael that had over 90 horses and wagons available for hire. Teams of McPhail’s horses transported railroad and PG&E work crews, as well as visitors from San Francisco vacationing at the luxurious Hotel Rafael.

In the early 1900’s, Graham’s father, Graham McPhail Sr., and his uncle, John, expanded the family business into new industries to serve Marin’s burgeoning development, including building materials, ready-mix concrete, and appliances. According to the Marin Independent Journal, Graham’s father suggested that the company add fuel oil to the business portfolio and the McPhail Fuel Company was formed in 1922.

Throughout his own life, Graham was actively involved with the Board of Directors for the McPhail businesses, including McPhail Fuel Company, which is still flourishing today in Marin, Sonoma, Napa, and Mendocino Counties. He also served on the Board of Directors for his family’s commercial property holdings in Marin and Sonoma.

In his younger years, Graham enjoyed running, hiking, camping, and being in nature with his family. A high point throughout his life was family travel to Lake Tahoe and México, which included numerous family road adventures in a camper along dusty roads to the tip of Baja California and the western Mexican mainland coast. Graham was a dedicated, lifelong fan of the San Francisco 49ers, Giants, and a Bear Backer supporting all of Cal’s athletics teams. He also was a strong advocate for women’s sports, particularly women’s basketball, and sponsored many teams over his lifetime.

From ayoung age, Graham was known to always march tothe beat of his own drum.

His life provides a powerful example to his children and grandchildren of how to authentically and fearlessly forge their own paths; to be curious intellectually, non-judgmental, and accepting of all people as they are; and most importantly, how to slow down, laugh, and not take themselves too seriously.

He is survived by his wife Alda Edna McPhail (Pulis); daughter Heather McPhail Sridharan and son-in-law Sumant Sridharan (Kentfield); son Graham Hardy McPhail III (a.k.a. Scott) and daughter-in-law Margaret (Maggie) Theresa McPhail (San Rafael); and his six grandchildren Joseph (Joe), Tara, Katherine (Kate), Mira, Anya, and Samir (Sammy); and his sister Gail Gereghty (McPhail).

The family is extremely grateful to the warm, caring hospice support of By the Bay Health and asks that any donations be made in his name to Play Marin, a local organization dedicated to improving access to sports and extracurricular activities for underserved children in Marin, and to the Sierra Club to honor Graham’s passion for outdoor adventures.