Bob Jasse: May he rest in peace
Bob Jasse, one of the innovative apple growers in New England, passed away on Sunday. Bob once owned Chomerics, an electronics company outside Boston and met Susan when she got a job there as the corporate cook. Not long after they married, he sold the company, they combined a large family of grown children, and bought Alyson's Apple Orchard in Walpole, N.H., as a retreat. The land overlooks the Connecticut River and the soil is unusually rich.
Bob planted 2,000 drawf apple trees and began a campaign of low or no spraying, growing heirlooms, and encouraging the public to come to the breathtakingly beautiful property.
He just kept planting and finally the two moved up there. Bob encouraged everyone to come to the orchard, built a meeting and reunion house, and Susan cooked for dozens at their farmhouse table (she's one of the best cooks I know). Chocolatier Larry Burdick of L.A. Burdick started in Walpole, documentary filmmaker Ken Burns moved his production company up there, and the idyllic little town was bursting with interesting people. They were all beneficiaries of Bob's apples and Susan's fine food.
Bob was so generous that he loaned out his property rent-free to several groups, including Chefs Collaborative, an organization that educates consumers about growers, when they were first starting. But he also didn't hesitate to tell someone where to get off. At the same time, he might be writing a check to another person he decided needed a little cash. Susan was always by his side, a gentle presence. She will continue to run the orchard.
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My wife Tara and I had great affection for this man. We will miss him terribly.
How such a power could leave us is the mystery of all mysteries. If anyone could have wrestled ol' man death to his knees, it was Bob.
To have dinner at Susan and Bob's was amazing for the food, and for the theater. I can't imagine being there without having at least one person stomp out in fury at Bob's opinions while everyone else roars with laughter.
The food will still be excellent, but the peace will take some gettin' used to.
Love, Ullrich, Eddie and Susan
I am very sad to hear of Bob's passing. My wife, 3 children and I spent a weekend at the orchard this past summer where I met Bob for the first time. It was one of the most memorable and wonderful experiences we've had. Bob was incredibly generous and loving to us all. Though I met him only once - I will remember Bob Jasse and the time spent my family spent with him and his family forever. Thank you Bob and rest in peace, my friend.
I just attended a wedding at Alyson's Orchard a couple of weeks ago. The place is beautiful and the staff was wonderful. I'm also a supporter of Chef's Collaborative.
I wish Susan the best; hopefully she will be comforted, if only a little, by the beautiful legacy that Bob left behind.
I was very sad to hear of Bob's passing. My daughter worked at the orchard this summer and she had a hard time leaving it behind to head off to college. She even returned for a beautiful Saturday this fall to work there. She truly enjoyed her summer with Bob and the other wonderful people at the orchard. I saw Bob this fall at the bank and he beamed when I mentioned that I was her mother - he knew how to make a mom proud! He will be missed.
I am so saddened by the news of Bob passing. He was an extraordinary man, not only for all that he accomplished but also his warm, kind, and caring ways. He had, as I would say, "an old soul." He never missed a moment to say hello and share a smile. He had that something that draws one near.
I will miss seeing him around town and always going out of his way to make known, he was a dear friend.
Susan, may you be comforted by his presence around the orchard.
Although I had only met Bob for the first time at a "Full Moon" party this summer, I felt we had made a special connection. I was very honored to be invited to his orchard and spend some time with him. It's amazing think that someone could have such a profound effect on my life in such a short time.
He will be sorely missed not only for the time I had with him, but for all the time I had hoped to still have.
Bob came into our life many years ago when he contacted my husband, Roland, to thank him for writing about Bob's birthplace, Revere MA, in one of his novels. Since that time he has been a wonderful correspondent, a gracious host, a generous friend and his passing takes a piece of our hearts with him. Bob is the kind of person who leaves a hole in the room when he walks out the door and he now has left a hole in our lives. To Susan, we send our love.
My wife and I were married at Alyson's this summer, and Bob dropped by both the reception and the rehearsal dinner with good wishes and cheer. He initially gave us an impromptu tour of the Orchard when we first checked it out, and we were blown away by his stories, good nature, and humor. He and his wife created an extraordinary place, and we will be forever thankful for their generosity and vision.
I will never forget you as long as I live. I'll never forget bringing my best friend and our puppy to your home. I'll never forget the wonderful dinner your wife made and the bottles of wine, with the record player and the singing to the wee hours of the morning. I'll never forget the ride home in the snowstorm, how much we wanted to stay with that beautiful piece of meat, roasting on the spit over the open hearth. I'll never forget you ever.
I met Bob last Christmas when I stayed at the Rochambeau Lodge with 20 of my friends, making up the "Olsen Party." Bob would stop by to make sure we were comfortable and happy. He would have a glass of wine with us and always made sure we had enough apples for our crowd. He was kind and jovial and enjoyed our singing in the kitchen as we were cooking. We are going back to AO this year and he will surely be missed.
My family met Bob and his wife and staff at our first spiritual family retreat in 2006. Over a long weekend, twenty-two of us walked the grounds and picked apples, rode the wagon pulled by the tractor and got the history of Alyson's Orchard. We came back for our 2007 retreat. We held our meetings in the conference hall where the music sounded beautiful and the sunsets were awesome. Most fun was meeting Bob in the morning with Susan's apple donuts and talking with him up at the orchard. He was kind and always had a tale to tell.
He made us feel so welcomed. I'll always remember his laughter and smile.
Bob Jasse is the only human being I ever knew who was truly "larger than life." I miss his wisdom, humor, charm and, of course, my "orchard management" classes I received with every trip to the old orchard. He was another Dad, and like my own Dad, I never thought he could leave us. Susan, I am so sorry for the massive crater he left in the world when he passed. On the other hand, I am sure he's still charming his way through the pearly gates! Take care and God bless.
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