East Hampton chef killed in early morning crash

A chef at an East Hampton country club was killed early Saturday when his car veered off Montauk Highway in Sagaponack and crashed into a utility pole, police said.

[Don]

To the Mahl Family,
So sorry for your loss my he Rest In Peace.

[David Allen]

May your fellow chef Jason ,lead you to the light....rest in peace.

[Huntsta]

I wish he had stayed in Texas..he could have worked the year round.

[MYOPINION]

Brian wrote:

what is a chef from the hamptons doing driving a Toyota, and not sure the weather was below freezing for ice to have been a issue..

Judging the "kid" is always useful at a time like this...

For the record: 26years old, chef, Hamptons, does not equal money.

[MYOPINION]

Huntsta wrote:

I wish he had stayed in Texas..he could have worked the year round.

Wishes obviously don't always come true...

[Kevin Thompson]

To the Mahl family, I'm sorry for your loss. My son Jason, also a chef, was killed in November. It's a very tough thing to deal with. Our family's thought are with you all.

[Craig Portland Maine]

We were neighbors of the Mahl family when I first moved to Del Rio to join the Border Patrol. One could not ask for a kinder, open family to help a young family adjust from New England to TX. Philip and his sister, Tula, were like an older sister and an brother to my two daughters.
We are sorry for their loss and mourn with them.

[Boston Poggenpohl Family]

We are all so saddened to hear of your loss and extend our deepest condolences to the Mahl family, friends and all who were touched by Philip. We have all grown to know Tula through our colleague J.P.Allen and accept her as a part of our extended family here at Poggenpohl. Please except our most heartfelt sympathys.

[Matt Stone]

I cooked with Philip for a year at Maestro. A great sense of humor to be sure. He showed me the beauty of the slicer when it comes to the daily brunoise. He was the first and only person I've seen eat raw foie gras. I have to say I thought it strange, but it was pretty good afterall. He could certainly dish it out as well as he could take it. And who can forget the lobster stock? A hard working and driven person. He was a good man and will be missed.

[Anonymous]

I am a school teacher in Del Rio, Philip's home town. I hadnt seen or spoken to Philip in over 6 years. I went to high school with him and he was a year older than me. I met him my junior year, he was a senior. He was an awesome guy and a great friend. He was very intelligent and fun to be around. When my parents house flooded in August of '98 he was the first one by my side and I will never forget that. He is the type of person that makes a difference in your life, the kind that makes you happy when you are sad, and lets you cry if you wish. Although my mother only met him a couple of times the moment I informed her of his passing, she instantly remembered who he was becasue of his wonderful personality. I am deeply saddened by this, I can just imagine the pain that his parents and sister must be feeling.

[Glenda Overfelt]

My condolences to Philip's family. He was a student of mine at Del Rio High School. I was so proud of him achieving his goal of becoming a quisinier. May he rest in peace and may his family's sorrow be eased.

[Cynthia Thompson]

my condolences to the Mahl family. My husband was a chef as well, he was killed in a motorcycle accident in November, just turned 29 years old. Everyone will say stay strong, i myself am trying to do so, but I know how hard it is. I will be thinking of your family ....Maybe your son and Jay are up there cooking up a storm together. I would like to think that there dreams can stay with them somehow.

[Rowland Garza]

I am from Del Rio, Texas and know the Mahl family. They are a great family and his son was a real class act. God Bless Mr. and Mrs. Mahl and family.

The Del Rio community stands behind you and will pray for you all during this difficult time.

[Erin Peterson]

I met Phillip the year before we went abroad (him to Costa Rica, and I to Autria) and have been friends with him since. He had a great instinct for knowing when you needed a friend. And he was a great friend. He brought life, laughter and energy into any environment. He will continue to live withing the hearts of all of us, whose lives he touched.

[Ryan Deschner]

I am devastated to hear this news. My prayers go out to the Mahl family. I met Phillip before leaving on our Rotary Exchange 7 years ago. A few months ago, he randomly dropped by my house in NY to say hi in the middle of the day and I happened to be there because I'd just gotten my wisdom teeth pulled. I can't help but think that this was his way of saying goodbye. He was so excited about the new additions to his family. My fondest memory of him will always be pushing 500lb barrels around in 100+ degree heat in New Braunfels, TX for extra money. To me Phillip was a warm and caring human being with an uncanny ability to never let anything get in the way of him being himself, and that's how I'll remember him. He was truly one of a kind.

Il me manquera mon ami Phillip.

[Cynthia Thompson]

I was just thinking of your family and I wanted to let you know you are still in my thoughts and prayers.

[Kendra Alton]

I had the pleasure to meet Phil for the first time in Costa Rica in '99 when he went abroad the same year my brother, Kurtis Alton, had gone as well. There are no words on how great of a person he was. Funny, charming, motivated, and passionate about his lifes goals. He had stayed with my sister, brother, and I for about 3 months in NY while looking for a job. He became another brother to me and my sister and watched over us while my brother was working in upstate NY for the summer. A week before he passed, we were pleasantly surprised when he came to visit for the night. I am so happy that my brother, sister, and I were able to reminess about the past and to see the pictures of his journey over the past couple of years. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Mahl family. He had spoken so highly of his family and feel as if I know them already. H e has touched so many hearts and will be greatly missed. We Love You Phil.

....The Alton family

[Fabrice]

I had the pleasure to meet Phil in Paris and we became friends,then i had an incredible summer 2006 with him in the Hamptons.I guess im one o the last person to have seen in him in his last moment because in the same week before the tragedy we were together talking about the next summer and him teling me how he had a good time in Frence bcause he was just coming back from there...
Im from Rwanda and i`ve lost a lot of spectial persons my life and phil was the most special friend that i realy care of for the past 13 years since i left my country.
All my prayers goes to the Mahl Familly and friends.Mes tres chers condoleance a vous et touts mes respects.

[Janina from Switzerland]

I am so sad for him and his family and friends. He was such a good person. I got to know philip last summer when I was working in East Hampton through his nice friend Diego.
I was so happy to pass my time with him because in the crazy summer time, he was a reliable, intelligent guy with whom I could be
how I was. He didn't care how people have to appear but he was honest. We had a lot of fun together when he visited me in the store I was working and I had nothing to do.
Also he made the best steak I ever ate and as I didn't have a place to live I could live at his little cute home and he didn't ask for nothing. He spoke a lot about his family. I remember how he told me that his mother told him to always wear good underwear for the case that something happens and unclearly how his father cared about immigration in Texas. At the store he wanted to buy luxury accessories for his sister. He loved to speak French. I know that everywhere he went people will miss him as a good friend.
In good good memory. Keep him in your hearts.
Byebye