Robert F. Jasse, Entrepreneur, Farmer & Friend - A Life Well Lived

Robert F. Jasse died on Sunday, November 2nd in Keene, New Hampshire at 79. The cause was pulmonary fibrosis.

At the age of 17, given the choice of reform school or the military, Bob wisely chose the Navy where he enjoyed a successful stint as a medic. This marked the beginning of his transformation from a young man from the rough streets of Revere, MA to the leader and visionary he would one day become. Following an honorable discharge and thanks to the G.I. Bill, Jasse went onto Boston College and later received an MBA from Wharton. In 1961 he co-founded Chomerics, which became a leading global manufacturer of EMI shielding materials.

After selling the company in '85, Jasse combined his entrepreneurial spirit with his love of farming and Alyson’s Apple Orchard was born. Bob’s vision of Alyson’s was much larger than a simple orchard, he added lodging and an event center so that people could gather and celebrate. There was nothing Bob loved more than a fine meal surrounded by friends and family all the while delighting his guests with stories both old and new. Conversations were lively, thought provoking and above all, led by Bob. The joke was that the surest way not to get invited back to the Jasse’s for dinner was by talking too much while Bob held court. The quiet his passing has created will take awhile to fill. As his close friend remarked, "the food will still be excellent, but the peace will take some gettin' used to." And so it will.

For the last 20 years, Jasse made his home in Walpole, New Hampshire . Bob was predeceased by Alyson, his youngest daughter and his first wife, Ann. He is survived by his wife, Susan, his children Ann Marie, Elizabeth, Martha, Robert, Jean and Rachel, his stepdaughters Ilze and Sarma, ten grandchildren & his beloved black Lab "Jack".

In honor of Bob’s commitment to both entrepreneurship and the pursuit of truth through science; his belief that no one should go to bed hungry, and his love of animals, the family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to support one of the following funds: The Robert F. Jasse Award for Entrepreneurship (Robert F. Jasse Fund, Harvard Business School, Soldiers Field, Boston, MA 02163); the Museum of Science (Bob Jasse Fund, Museum of Science, Science Parkway, Boston, MA 02114); Fall Mountain Food Shelf (PO Box 191, Alstead, NH 03602) or the Second Chance Animal Rescue, (P.O. Box 1132, Walpole, NH 03608).

Click here to see the slideshow from his memorial service. Once on the Overview page, click on the Video tab and then on the Celebration of Life link at the bottom of the page.

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