Alissa Dean Philips

Alissa Afiza Dean Philips, 39, of Hawthorne, California, passed away on April 23, 2026, following a five-year battle with cancer.

Alissa was born in Suva, Fiji to Ahmad Dean and May Chan Dean on September 21, 1986. She attended high school at Suva Grammar School, where she graduated as the Year 12 Dux/Valedictorian, having attained the highest grades in 2005.

Following high school, Alissa was awarded the East-West Center American Government Scholarship to attend the University of Hawaii where she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting, May 2010.

In 2016, Alissa was awarded the New Zealand Pacific Scholarship to attend Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand. She graduated with a Master of Applied Finance degree, with distinction, in August 2017.

Prior to migrating to the United States Alissa worked for the Reserve Bank of Fiji and Westpac Bank in Risk Management and Examinations. She migrated to the United States in 2021 and joined City National Bank in Los Angeles, where she was quickly promoted to Assistant Vice President in the Risk Management Department.

Alissa was a dedicated and influential figure in Fiji’s badminton community who represented Team Fiji from 2003 to 2019. She competed in two Commonwealth Games (2006 and 2018), demonstrating long-term commitment and perseverance. She played a key role in Fiji’s women’s team winning bronze at the 2018 Oceania Championships and later contributed to the mixed team’s gold medal at the 2019 Pacific Games. Known for her leadership and experience, she helped strengthen and inspire her team.

Alissa is survived by her husband, Jonathan Philips; her parents, Ahmad and May Dean; her sisters, Melissa Mozima Dean and Melanie Dean Lobendahn; and her brother, Zyrus Dean. She is also survived by her nieces, Maira, Mysha, and Kyrah; her nephew, Aaron; her parents-in-law, Ian and Audrey Philips; and her brothers and sisters-in-law, Moshin, Darren, Aisha, and Ianthe.

The family wishes to extend their gratitude for the support received during this time.