Philips Precision Medicraft has announced the death of its Founder, Francis Phillips, 86. He passed peacefully at his home on Jan. 7 after a prolonged illness, surrounded by his family.

A skilled machinist by trade and a man of great integrity, Phillips built a remarkable legacy from humble beginnings. In 1967 with his wife Jeanne, Phillips laid the foundation for a company that would eventually become Phillips Precision Inc. He started the business from the basement of their home, where they kept a milling ‘hand’ machine he refurbished himself. By 1969, the couple opened Phillips Precision Prototypes. In 1972, a pivotal opportunity provided by Howmedica engineer Alex Khowaylo led Phillips to focus exclusively on the orthopedic industry—a decision that led to decades of innovation and industry firsts.

In 1989, the establishment of Medicraft as an independent company for cases, trays, and delivery systems solidified Phillips’s impact on the industry. He had the talent and mindset to bridge the gap between engineering ideas and real-world production and manufacturing unlike anyone else. Phillips maintained a reputation for delivering quality and groundbreaking solutions that transformed the early years of the orthopedic industry.

The Phillips family intends to uphold their patriarch’s legacy of excellence. Under the continued leadership of his wife Jeanne, and their two sons—John Phillips and Michael Phillips—and their daughter, Patricia Phillips Gonzalez, the company has grown to three thriving manufacturing facilities that employ hundreds of valued team members, all while remaining true to its U.S.-based manufacturing roots.

Besides his business pursuits, Phillips was an active member of the Lions Club in both Franklin Lakes, N.J., and Northvale, N.J., and loved volunteering his time at Lions Club events. His dedication to service and community was a true reflection of who he was.

Phillips will be missed by his family, friends, colleagues, and everyone whose lives he touched—including those who worked alongside him and those inspired by the enduring legacy he built.

A public memorial service to celebrate Phillips’s life is scheduled for Jan. 12 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Vander Plaat Funeral Home, 257 Godwin Ave., Wyckoff, N.J.