Alexander's 20-Year Tribute

Updated 12/22/04

20-Year Tribute

Alexander A. Robichek
20 Year Tribute

“Do you think there are any good Chinese restaurants up there?”
--Alex, 1978

Time passes and memories fade….but let us always remember those who have gone before us. Following is a collection of thoughts, in no particular order, from Alex’s three children. We celebrate this special man who touched and influenced so many people during his lifetime. We hope our reflections bring a smile to your face and knowing nods that “Yes, this was Alex.”

He had a sparkle in his eye and great warmth in his smile
Given the choice between money and family, he chose family
He learned and used at least seven languages well enough to enjoy people all over the world
He wanted his children to see the world and appreciate its diversity
He loved Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, Carmel and the joy of travel
He was even-tempered and, through this, had a calming effect on those around him
He gave of himself to others, but also cherished his solitude
He was generous with others and himself
He accepted and welcomed new challenges in work and life
He had many friends
He was respected but never feared
He was understated
Nothing fazed him
He liked games of all sorts
He enjoyed watching sports, in particular football
He loved family activities, but made sure that he and his wife had time alone
He had a wonderful, mischievous sense of humor and relished telling and hearing good (and bad) jokes
He had a bit of the devil in him
He preyed on the gullible but was never mean or cruel
Smiles came more frequently than frowns and laughter more often than tears
He knew how to relax and have fun
He kept things in perspective
He was rarely angry
He loved being close to water, either at an ocean or a lake
He was adventurous
He accepted pressure and the unknown
He was brilliant (although he projected an “ordinary” façade), but didn’t make others feel less so
He was humble, rarely speaking of his many outstanding achievements, and often gave credit to others when it could or should have been his
He was a model father – loving, yet firm, and always encouraging his children to try new things
He was a mentor to many
He could focus on his work so as to be able to produce in a 9-5 day what others might have done in a fortnight
He achieved a perfect balance of work and play
He knew how to prioritize what he had control over
He loved Chinese food
He could whip anyone at ping-pong
He enjoyed competition, but only as a game and never as a metaphor for life’s success
He knew how to live life by the “win-win” principle – no one who played or competed against him felt his win was their loss
He wrote about the most complicated theories of finance, but enjoyed reading escapist mysteries and adventure stories
He could keep a secret
He was a great peacemaker
His love for the most part went unspoken, yet he showed it through his actions every day
He had an affinity for convertibles
He loved to dance (and was good!)
His smile always brightened your day
He allowed his children to be individuals and forge their own paths and made each of them, although dramatically different from one another, feel most special and loved for who they were
He was a remarkable man for who he was and what he accomplished
Through his actions, he taught acceptance
He made the best of what life threw at him
He rose from the ashes
He never seemed afraid, even of death
He knew how to work to change that which could be affected by his effort, to accept that which couldn’t and had the wisdom to know the difference
He had an enormously strong character and belief in himself
He had a deeply personal understanding of the evil potential of mankind, yet was positive and unhindered by that knowledge
He was a patient teacher, both in the lessons of the classroom and life
He had a gift for helping or instructing others at precisely their level of understanding
He had many close friends
He was always there to talk to
He knew what he wanted and usually got it!
He never missed the forest for the trees and yet appreciated the smallest sapling
No matter the question, he always had the right answer (or so it seemed!)
He loved his wife and children, and they him, without reservation

Jane, Mark and Sue
February 2, 1998

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