When people talk about Phil Rosebrook Sr., they don’t begin with the businesses he built or the companies he coached. They start with comments on his faith, his wisdom, and his stories. Stories of prayers whispered over struggling owners. Stories of long conversations tucked away in quiet corners at conferences. Stories of road trips, cigars and malbec, belly laughs, and acts of generosity you never knew about unless you were there to witness them. Phil’s life was a tapestry of these moments, woven together by faith, humility, and a genuine love for others.
Phil passed away peacefully on Nov. 25, 2025. I imagine the Lord greeted him in heaven with the words from Matthew 25:21:
‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”
His is a legacy that cannot be measured in business accomplishments alone. His impact was rooted in relationships, compassion, and a lifelong commitment to serving others.
A Life Rooted in Faith and Family
Phil’s business journey began in Chicago in the 1950s. While working as a full-time fourth grade teacher, Phil launched Rosebrook Swimming Pools. Over time, he expanded by opening more businesses related to pools – like a supply store, plumbing and electrical services, and even a Sinclair gas station to fuel his company fleet. He also created a subscription service for pool maintenance. His son, Phil Rosebrook Jr., commented that his dad was a pioneer in what he did.
At the height of success, he made a remarkable choice. He stepped away.
“He wanted to be a dad and a person of value, rather than make money,” recounted Phil Jr. So, he sold all his businesses and moved the family to Oregon when Phil Jr. was just 3 years old and David 5. There, on a 35-acre ranch, Phil Sr. devoted himself to raising his children. He attended daily Mass, had breakfast with the local priest, and embraced the fullness of family life with his wife, Carol, and their three sons – David, Phil Jr., and Brian. The couple would also welcome their daughter, Danielle, 14 years after Phil Jr.
For 15 years, Phil Sr. lived simply, taught his children the importance of faith and family, and was present for every moment he could be. One of the greatest joys of Phil’s life was seeing his children and grandchildren grow up, stay connected, love each other deeply, and maintain the faith that was so important to him.
Shaping the Restoration Industry
In 1988, with his older children grown, Phil Sr. purchased a small restoration company in Eugene, Or, so the family could work together as the kids moved off to college. Phil Jr. said my dad was a businessman who ran a restoration company, not a restorer. Yet through business discipline, curiosity, and a sincere desire to serve people well, he transformed the company from a single office into four locations that covered a significant portion of Oregon’s population.
Phil embraced innovation early. He adopted computerized estimating in the DOS era and explored building drying techniques long before they were standard practice. He also saw value early on in learning from others outside his market and was a consummate networker. Around 1990, he joined ASCR (today’s Restoration Industry Association). Then in 1993, again noting a changing landscape in the industry, he saw the need for a presence on the national level and joined DKI where he served as the West Coast chapter president.
A pivotal moment came when he attended a seminar called Healing the Loss, by Steve Toburen. He believed it would transform the business, and it did. He developed a deep, customer-first philosophy and created an Above and Beyond Award that became a peer nominated award that built the company culture around exceptional customer service.
Phil believed that character and consistency mattered in business. He also believed in clarity and strategy. He believed that serving people was more important than impressing them.
In 1997, he sold to Rocky Mountain Catastrophe. Phil Jr. said the sale came after a year where many things went wrong. But through it all, his father’s faith never wavered.
The Birth of Business Mentors
At the same time the sale of the restoration business was being finalized, Phil recognized a need in the industry: restorers needed someone to talk to that had walked in their shoes. They needed a mentor who had experienced the pressures of business ownership and could speak from lived experience.
The idea came to life during a long road trip from Oregon to Michigan and back. He stopped and met with many restoration company leaders along the way – offering wisdom, praying alongside them, and spending time making sure everyone he met with, felt heard and seen.
This was the start of Business Mentors.
According to Phil Jr., there was very little consulting in the restoration industry at the time. His father created the model and built it from nothing.
What he built was more than a consulting business. It was a lifeline for many. Phil listened deeply. He looked for value in people who often did not see it in themselves. He challenged owners to align their actions with their values, and he supported them as they grew into better leaders.
“He would challenge owners when he saw a misalignment between actions and values,” commented Phil Jr. “He changed peoples’ lives. Challenged them personally and then supported them.”
His faith quietly shaped every interaction. He began each morning by praying through a long list of people. When appropriate, he asked clients if he could pray with them. He believed that God showed up in impossible situations. He reminded people that money was not truly theirs, but God’s.
Phil Jr. worked alongside his father for 22 years and described their partnership in simply terms. My dad was my best friend. We occasionally disagreed but never had an argument. We complemented each other. We were solid partners because the other person’s interest was always part of the solution. David joined the consulting business in 2004 and was able to work with his father for nearly 18 years.
Faith in Action
Beginning in the late 1990s, Phil and Carol traveled regularly to Puerto Escondido, Mexico. At first, it was a destination chosen for leisure – but soon became Phil’s own mission field, of sorts.
One year, after a hurricane devastated a small village, Phil organized donations from friends and restorers from around North America and delivered them personally. The town’s leader told him that people would often come to talk about helping, but Phil and Carol were the ones who showed up and did it. Phil also mentored local residents, prayed with families, helped entrepreneurs start small businesses, and became a father figure to several young people in the community. He never sought recognition. Acts of quiet service were simply part of who he was.
Phil’s Influence on Others
If you read the comments on Phil Jr’s LinkedIn post sharing the passing of his father, you will quickly see the admiration and respect shared among many. Several more took time to speak to C&R and share favorite memories and lessons from Phil Sr.
“He was not a man of many words, but when he spoke, you knew you needed to listen, and you needed to listen closely.” recalled Josh Tubero, president of Alliance Disaster Kleenup. “His words were overwhelmingly impactful. His advice was always spot on.”
Josh reminisced about sitting in Phil’s home in Oregon puzzling out a business problem for hours while Phil listened in. Eventually, Phil would add just a few sentences to the conversation – that were always full of wisdom, and held the answer to the problem. Josh said in many ways, Phil helped hundreds of restoration companies become true, well-run, legitimate businesses thanks to adding processes and procedures. His hope is that the restorers impacted by Phil will help carry his legacy of care and wisdom to future generations.
Michael Pinto, founder of WonderMakers Environmental, shared that Phil was an incredible mentor whose impact cannot be contained in a single story. He loved the people he met, plain and simple. Michael described a nearly 30-year friendship filled with encouragement, guidance, and genuine care.
“Phil reminded us that business success means nothing if the rest of your life is in shambles,” Michael said. “He modeled how to be a loving husband, father, and generous giver. Phil encouraged us to be the best business owners, parents, friends, and Christians we could be.”
Warner Cruz, another close friend and restorer, said that Phil transformed both his life and his business.
“If it wasn’t for Phil, I would’ve never prayed for my business. Phil showed me how faith and business could coexist,” recalled Warner. And with a smile, Warner reminisced on Phil’s belly laugh, saying he sometimes catches himself laughing that same way and it reminds him of his dear friend.
Mark Springer also shared of the profound impact Phil had on his early development as a businessman.
“One of the things I learned from Phil was that in dealing with business, we will have challenges to face. Whether it’s with customers or business plans that don’t go the way we want. Phil really taught me a lot about being able to accept God’s will in the things we face and realize these are important things in our journey of our maturity process and how we grow as people.”
When things were less than ideal, Phil Sr. taught people to say, “thank you, Lord” and trust the process. That was something he taught Mark more than 25 years ago, and something Mark still reflects on often.
A Legacy That Endures
Phil Jr. said his father would want restorers today to remember the importance of people. Phil Sr. believed that businesses must balance accountability and profitability, but that people must always come first. He taught that it is possible to run a business and have a fulfilling life. He believed that relationships matter more than money.
At the heart of everything Phil did was his faith. He lived with trust in God, humility, and gratitude. One of his favorite verses was Job 1:21: “The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” And another guiding truth came from Mother Teresa: “The Lord has not called me to be successful; He has called me to be faithful.”
And as so many across the industry and around the world know, he was also a wise and steadfast man who served faithfully, cared deeply, and loved generously.
Well done, good and faithful servant.
Michelle Blevins
Michelle Blevins is a content creator, marketing consultant, and entrepreneur whose career has been centered around education and fostering relationships within the industry she serves.
A journalist by trade, Michelle is passionate about running a publication rooted in integrity and valuable education. She views her role as owner and publisher of C&R Magazine as a bridge between industry experts and restoration and cleaning contractors.
Since joining the restoration industry, Michelle has made it her business to stay on top of the latest industry trends. She has become a go-to resource for anyone looking to learn more about what’s happening within today’s restoration industry. This has earned her a spot on many industry stages facilitating panels and helpful discussion with industry experts on the biggest topics facing restorers and cleaners in the current market.
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