Honored Best Friends
Henry Ipina
Best Man
Henry and Philip have been best friends since the 3rd grade — which means Henry has seen every phase: awkward, athletic, overconfident, humbled… and everything in between. They grew up playing soccer together and shared more teams than they can count. Henry always had the better raw foot skills (we’ll give him that), while Philip relied on what he generously calls “physical presence.” Thankfully, they were usually on the same side — so there was never a real debate about who was better. The goal was always the same: win. Philip had the privilege of traveling through Guatemala with Henry and his family for several weeks, where they witnessed one of the most incredible night skies imaginable — complete with an active volcano erupting throughout the night. Casual. Henry also joined Philip, Daniel, and Michelle for an unforgettable 8-day trek through Glacier National Park. He brought great vibes, strong hiking legs… and nearly attracted a grizzly bear into camp by unknowingly storing essential oils and matcha tea in his tent. We’re happy to report everyone survived. Henry is the kind of person you can’t help but love — overwhelmingly kind, fiercely loyal, and always ready to defend his friends if necessary. Philip is beyond honored to stand beside him — and grateful he’s been there through it all.
Julie Gerrity
Best Woman
Julie and I have been best friends since first grade, mainly because we looked like twins and naturally decided that was a sign, she was the sister I always wanted. From the very beginning, she was so loyal, even sticking up for me against the “mean girls.” We grew up side by side in Girl Scouts (until we very started our own anti- Girl Scout club), going on family vacations together, choreographing dances, making home movies, and spying on my brothers. We’ve been there for each other through everything - I was there when she broke her arm, she was there when I got my first stitches… and even when I stepped on a beehive at summer camp! We truly grew up together. Even when high school took us to different schools, nothing changed in our friendship. We both went to UConn, where we made new friends, but kept our friendship strong and filled our days with library study sessions, football tailgates, dance nights, and even the incredible experience of studying abroad in Florence, Italy. Over the years, it’s been dinners cooked together, visits whenever we’re home, and constant support no matter what. Watching Julie become a mother to her beautiful daughter, Evy, has been one of my greatest joys, and I could not be more excited to be Aunt Shelly. I hope to be a mother like her! Julie is comforting, warm, full of wisdom, and has the sweetest heart. She has been there through it all, and I am endlessly grateful to call her my best friend.
Daniel Rossiter
Best Man
Daniel and Philip became friends in 2019 when Philip moved to Baltimore and started training in the ICU — where Daniel was his mentor. Daniel quickly recognized that Philip was “somewhat smart” and had “decent potential,” so naturally, he made his life very difficult in the name of excellence. Daniel pushed him hard, demanded his best, and somehow — Philip survived ICU training. Shortly after, Daniel left for Colorado to begin travel nursing, because apparently mentoring Philip wasn’t enough adventure. When Philip visited him there, their shared love for the outdoors truly took off. Since then, they’ve hiked through Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana together — including multiple week-long backpacking trips across some of the most spectacular terrain in the country. Daniel’s wife, Emily, remains just slightly jealous of these wilderness bonding experiences. Daniel is, without question, one of the kindest humans you’ll ever meet. It makes perfect sense that he and Philip became such close friends — they bring out the best in each other. Philip is incredibly grateful to have him standing by his side.
Kristine Nelson
Best Woman
Kristine and I met sophomore year at UConn when we both made the decision not to room with our existing friend groups, which meant we ended up as essentially random roommates. What started as a practical living decision quickly turned into one of the best friendships of my life. I learned so much from Kristine from the start: not everyone is a morning person, friends who make you pee your pants are the realest, & that confidence is key in dancing. One of the moments that really sealed our friendship was our first ski trip out West, where we both skied powder for the first time. We had the time of our lives both on the mountain and off, dancing, making new friends, & cooking dinners with our ski friends. From epic ski trips to simple roommate hangouts, college was full of my favorite memories with Kristine. After college, Kristine remained a huge part of my life. During PT school, when my free time was almost nonexistent, she still showed up for PT events & hangouts to support me. After graduation, we kept our tradition of visiting whenever we could. Now, watching Kristine step into motherhood with her beautiful daughter Sofia has been so special. I can’t wait to watch her grow in this new chapter & bring Sofia along on future adventures. Kristine has always been someone I can go to for advice or talk to about anything. She is thoughtful, loyal, and such a devoted friend, and I will always be grateful that a random roommate turned into such an important part of my life.
Maxwell Risch
Best Man
Max and Philip became friends in 2020 during the COVID pandemic while working together caring for patients who were, far too often, not going to make it. It was a heavy time. Somewhere in the middle of that chaos, a friendship formed that has become one of the most meaningful in Philip’s life. Max has an incredible gift for grounding you. When things feel overwhelming — or when Philip is absolutely convinced he’s 100% right — Max calmly helps him see things clearly, including the moments when he is, in fact, not right. (There have been a few. Allegedly.) He was there for every post-Michelle “so here’s what happened…” conversation. Philip credits Max with refining his character, strengthening him as a partner, and modeling what being a good husband looks like. His wife, Brittney, truly won the lottery. Despite the intensity of their job, they’ve laughed so hard at work it felt criminal to be paid. Some shifts didn’t feel like work — just two friends surviving chaos with sarcasm and perspective. When Philip mentioned biking from Poughkeepsie to the tip of NYC, Max bought a road bike, got (more) fit, and trained. They completed the 116-mile ride — because of course they did. Their bond isn’t overly flashy. It’s built on real conversations about life, partnership, and the kind of men they want to be. It’s steady. And it’s priceless.
Maddie Garner
Best Woman
I met Maddie the very first weekend I moved to Tucson on a hike where I essentially asked her if she wanted to be my friend. Looking back, it truly feels like God placed her in my life at exactly the right time. I had just moved somewhere completely new, and suddenly there was this adventurous, funny, beautiful soul who quickly became one of my best friends. A few months into our friendship, we started our “Maddie & Michelle Adventures” (M&M), where we would pick a cool destination and take off for a quick weekend trip. Maddie has always been my biggest “yes” girl, saying yes to the adventure simply because we’d get to experience it together. She even agreed to go skydiving with me for my 25th birthday in Tucson! As the years went on, our friendship deepened in the best ways. We realized that instead of going out, we wanted to spend our time building memories, exploring new places, and sharing experiences together. Maddie was also there for me through some very tough moments, always showing up with so much love and kindness. Our annual M&M trips have taken us to incredible places, trying cross-country skiing for the first time, discovering the best car road trip snacks & music playlists, laughing until we cry, and having the kind of deep conversations that only bring you closer. No matter the distance, I know our friendship will continue to grow, our Maddie & Michelle Adventures will never end, and no matter what is going on in life good or bad we will have each other.