Phil was in leadership at Buffalo State College for 25 years where he was a scholar and educator. He served on the boards of the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County, the local chapter of the National Conference of Community and Justice (NCCJ), Our Lady of Victory Services, Hispanics United of Buffalo and the Stringed Edition Guitar Ensemble. Dr. Santamaria was also a past president of the Rotary Club of Williamsville and of the Buffalo Council on World Affairs and was past co-chairman of the NCCJ chapter.

As an accomplished banjo and guitar player later in life, he was well known in the Buffalo area as a member of his own dance band, Santa Maria, and as a member of a Dixieland band, the Bourbon Street Blues.

He is remembered by those of us who knew him well as someone who brought friendship with him as he entered the room.