Remembering Phil Factor

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Remembering Phil Factor

Steve Jones - SSC Editor

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September 19, 2025 at 12:00 am

#4648363

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david.gugg SSCertifiable Points: 6187 More actions · Answer 1

I always wondered who Phil Factor really was. His articles were great and I've learned a lot from him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, by the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Be still, and know that I am God - Psalm 46:10

David.Poole SSC Guru Points: 76254 More actions · Answer 2

I'm very sorry to hear of his passing. I shared a link to his "Two stops short of Dagenham" article earlier this week as one of my favourite IT stories.

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Doctor Who 2 SSCrazy Eights Points: 8223 More actions · Answer 3

I'm very sorry to hear of Phil (Andrew's) passing away. I've never had the opportunity to meet him, unfortunately. I have enjoyed reading his articles.

Rod

cgumprich Ten Centuries Points: 1120 More actions · Answer 4

Very sorry to hear he passed. The Phrenetic Phoughts of Phil Factor: Confessions of an IT Manager remains one of my favorite "Real IT" books.

I wanted to include a verse from his classic "The DBA's Demise: A Recitation" but I didn't want to seem clueless.

Steve Jones - SSC Editor SSC Guru Points: 739010 More actions · Answer 5

Steve Jones - SSC Editor

SSC Guru

Points: 739010

September 22, 2025 at 4:01 pm

#4656293

I forgot about that book. It was a a fun read.

Rich Mechaber SSChampion Points: 11131 More actions · Answer 6

Phil-Andrew was one of a dozen or so experts on SSC whose replies I often zeroed in on when people posted questions. It was clear to me that he not only had a deep and broad knowledge of SQL Server, he lived in the real world, where unanticipated issues might result from implementing a quick fix. He knew quick fixes might come back and bite one's posterior later. Phil-Andrew anticipated those, giving us ways to prevent them from happening before they happened.

And I suppose everyone loves a mystery. Who WAS this 19th century refined gentleman in the picture? Why did he hide behind a clever/horrible pun of a moniker? Was he, like Paul Randal, In Recovery?

I'm also of an age where loved ones and those I've known by reputation and generous strangers who've anonymously helped me are dying. I haven't been on SSC much the past few years, but hearing of Phil-Andrew's death did hit me. I'm grateful for all of his help.