When you think about Bishop Manogue, what comes to your mind? Maybe the football games, the school dances, or even just day-to-day classes. Sure, all of these things are great, but do you even stop to appreciate just how clean and well-kept our school is? From the cafeteria to each individual classroom, our campus is beautiful, but it does not magically get that way. So who’s responsible for making every corner of the building shine?
One of the hard working individuals behind the scenes is Phil Marcella. Whether you know him or not, he surely cares about you and your Bishop Manogue experience. Phil is everywhere and nowhere all at once, he’s a mystery. You may never see him at work, but his diligent efforts are always present. You may never notice that he’s here, but you sure would notice if he was not.
Growing up in West Covina, California as the middle child in a family of seven, Phil grew up understanding the value of familial connections. He was extremely close with his family, growing up Catholic and going on fun family vacations. Later in life, he headed straight into the workforce, moving to the Carson City area and beginning work at Carson High School as a janitor. Phil described the environment as “kind of not so great.” Although it may not have necessarily been the students, Phil was given a lot of things to do around the building for a very minimal pay. So he decided to look elsewhere. While scrolling through the job site Indeed one day, he came across an advertisement for a janitorial position at Bishop Manogue. With little hope they would contact him, he applied anyway, and with divine intervention he was offered the position. Phil has been a valued member of the Manogue family since 2016, and he wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
Phil loves his Bishop Manogue community and interactions with the student body. “It’s like a big family,” Phil explains, “talking to the students in the hallways, that’s what makes it fun.” He works hard for his community, beginning his days bright and early arriving at 5:30 AM. He opens up the school and does any task necessary, from cleaning bathrooms to repairing various items around the school. Phil is a team player. “Anything that goes on that they need me for I’m here to fix it. Blood, messes, you name it, I do it all.” These differing cleaning tasks also include the wild Senior Pranks that come around at the end of each year. From vaseline on the door handles to trees planted in toilet bowls, Phil is responsible for returning our school back to normal after whatever silly things the seniors come up with. He loves our students and takes all of these pranks with a smile, as he was once a senior too who participated just the same. During Phil’s senior year, he and his fellow classmates played their own pranks on his California high school. “I don’t know if you remember the Bob’s big boy statue, but we took one of those and hung him from the flagpole.” Phil understands and cares for our students, and every shift works extremely hard to take care of our second home.
While not working, Phil enjoys many different activities. He loves camping or going fishing from time to time. He is also interested in old cars, owning his own ‘68 El Camino. “My dad was a mechanic for 35 years, so I grew up around cars and that’s how I learned about them.” He enjoys attending Hot August Nights with his old vehicle as well.
Another aspect of Phil many may not know about is his sense of humor. He may seem grouchy, but he loves a good laugh and joking around. He loves to interact with those around him and is great at leaving those around him with a smile on their face. His advice to the students here is just to take life day to day. “Don’t stress it. You’re going to graduate and keep going, so just go day to day and do what you’ve got to do,” Phil explains. He is a great example of going with the flow while still taking your work seriously and diligently, and we could all take a page out of that book.
Phil Marcella is such an important part of the Manogue faculty, caring for every little thing that most don’t take the time to think about, and he does it all without being seen. He loves his Bishop Manogue family, and we love and appreciate him just the same.
