I wanted to share the story of the peach (or is it pear?) tree.  

In 1994 at some point, Bob, Adam, Dan, Scott and I were working together on the infamous reflective company. Jack was an active board member, investor, and mentor to all of us.  We were working out of his 128 Sidney building alongside his office.  

Jack used to walk over from Brookline every day to his office to work (which I think meant read the paper, compulsively order things that he collected in bulk, contemplate fighting with Donovan again, go to MIT for lunch with his friends, and to see his sons).  

A few years prior, while he was walking to the office, Jack noticed a single house with lovely fruit trees that were kept impeccably and full of excellent looking fruit.  Not to miss a good thing, Jack would pick some fruit to fuel him onward each day.  He kept this up for several years.

Yet, after a good deal of fresh fruit and a good deal more Jewish guilt, Jack decided that he must ring the doorbell of the man who lived there and admit his transgressions.  And so Jack did, offering to pay for the fruit that he had eaten.   The kind gentleman living there refused his money, so Jack instead devised a plan to pay him for fruit in the future and to plant and care for some fruit trees around his 128 Sidney office.

So flush with fruit and a series of young saplings around the cold hard paved parking lot, Adam, Bob, Dan, Scott and I strove to build the reflective company (RTI).    

The reflective “technology” had come from an English tinkerer-type guy who never really could make it work.  It was bought by RTI and a couple million was spent on "MIT brilliance" to make it work.  

So here we all were at 128 Sidney, slaving away night and day to make this company work and to make Jack proud.  During this time, Adam also led a complete restoration of the building that exposed the original brick and wood.  It was stunningly beautiful.  There was so much good being done and we knew we could make Jack proud.  

Yet, whenever someone important came by to visit Jack, he never really mentioned the company, his sons, or the building, he just took them to see his fruit trees.  He just couldn't stop talking about the trees. He couldn't help but wanting to be around them and see them every day as they grew.

Finally in the spring, one tree, right by the entrance, sprouted a single blossom  -- which eventually grew into a baby peach.  We must have watched Jack tour MIT professors, government officials, and even the Massachusetts Attorney General (with whom he was great friends) to visit the baby peach.  Somehow this baby peach had earned cult status.  Jack would walk out to look at the tree.  He would talk to the tree.  He would hold the peach.  It was clearly so precious to him.

In the meantime, all was proceeding well at RTI and we were finally improving upon the tinker-technology.  

We were striving to overcome the minor issue of all the reflective material falling off the clothes when they were washed.  (Incidentally, I was living with Jack and Karen, and unbeknownst to Jack, I was running “wash tests” on the fabric and doing about 5 loads of laundry per day in Jack's home washing machine.  As a result, all of his and Karen's clothing seemed to reflect well in the dark for years thereafter.)  I think Jack just thought I was obsessively clean with my clothes!

Yet, at some point Adam and Dan became suspicious of the British "scientist".  It appeared that there were extremely large fax bills to a number in England.  It was assumed that the Brit was staying late and faxing at night the results of all of our R&D to some British partner.  

Dan and Adam were livid.  Bob became quite riled up too.  They were arguing over the beating, the torturing, the jailing, and the deportation of the British guy (for Jack knew the Attorney General quite well).  The dispute arose within the group over in what order these should occur and whether it was possible to do all simultaneously.  There was also debate over who got to be the good cop and the bad cop, over who would offer and take away the Brit's cigarettes during the interrogation (as he was an addicted smoker), and who would shine the one bright light bulb in his eyes while he was interrogated.  Somewhere in the midst of this excited lynch mob, Jack happened to stop by.  

Adam, Dan and Bob shared their outrage expecting Jack to join the rumpus.  Yet, Jack was adamantly against all of us and said that he was genuinely shocked at our behavior.  Jack stated firmly that in this country we are innocent until proven guilty.  There was no real proof that the Brit had done anything wrong.  There was only a circumstantial set of phone bills.  There would be no lynching someone without proof.  Jack was firmly on the Brit's side unless Adam could show him indisputable facts.  Adam argued that the family had millions tied up in the company and this was jeopardized but Jack would not budge.  This was principle.   I recall him saying that no amount of money is worth sacrificing your principles.  I was surprised, awed and impressed by Jack.

Naturally, Dan, Adam, and Bob remained clearly upset (they are pretty transparent people) and it appeared over the next day that the British tinkerer was starting to realize that he was fast becoming suspect.  

The next morning, when we arrived at work, we all noticed that Jack's  Sacred Peach had been plucked from the tree, a bite taken out of it, and it lay there on the ground next to a cigarette butt below the tree.  

I am not exactly sure what happened thereafter.  I never asked questions.  I don't really want to know.  

I recall Jack arriving, and a near-nuclear explosion.

I am relatively sure that within 3 days the Brit was deported (or so it is said) and never heard from or seen again.   

I only know a few things for sure: Jack firmly believed in innocent until proven guilty.  Jack firmly believed that principles outweighed all the money in the world.  And, most of all, under no circumstances should someone ever mess with one of his beloved sacred peach trees. 

I am not sure if I realized it at the time, but now it is clear.  Jack's friends and family were his peach trees - treasured, a source of joy and pride, invaluable to him, and something that he would do anything to nurture and protect.

I miss Jack.  He will always be my peach tree.

B"H

His soul should have an aliyah.  May H-shem comfort you among the other mourners of Zion and Yerushalaim.

I fondly remember the family camping trips to the Fulton chain of lakes in the Adirondacks.

Saddened by the death of Jack he was a great dad and granddad.

Karen and Family,

I was fortunate to be hired by NREC while adrift as a 23-year old.  It was there that I found purpose and direction, and was inspired to finish a degree ;and ultimately to found a company.  Jack created an institution of exceptionally creative, capable people always working to be the best.  The opportunity to work with Jack, Arnie, Don Dix and the others was an enormous privilege.  I am deeply grateful to him for creating that institution.  I daresay that the education I received at NREC was more important by far than my degree.

Eric Sonnichsen
South Portland Maine

To Karen and Family - I worked at NREC for several years in the 60's and 70's as Jack's secretary.  He was a role model, a man to be respected and someone I truly admired.  I will never forget him, you and your family and the family we all had at Northern Research.

Dear Karen:
I have just heard of Jack's passing and wanted to extend my sincerest condolences to you and the children. Jack and I had a long relationship as a friend and during the time when I worked with him at NREC,as well as during all the years when our two families maintained a close contact and relationship. Our kindest regards to you and the family.
Kymus and the Ginwala family.

Karen and family, Richard and I are saddened for your loss.  I worked at NREC in the mid 60's until early 70's and met my husband there who worked at 301 Vassar. We have many memories of the exciting research NREC accompished over the years. We feel a loss of a very smart man who accomplished a career, business and a wonderful large family and friends.  Our deepest sympathy.

OBITUARIO

Jack Rizika

18 enero, 1927 – 26 diciembre, 2013

Stanetsky Memorial Chapel

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