My friend and partner, Jack Klasnic, is gone. We met in the 1970s and partnered to perform audits of inplant printing facilities. I did the typesetting part and he did the printing part. He would say that I only dealt with zeroes and ones while he dealt with real numbers. We did two projects for the United Nations and many for financial services organizations and state and federal government.
Jack’s accounting background was invaluable. He could also do mental math. “Jack, 1,000 8.5x11 brochures on 50 lb offset; how much paper in pounds?” And Jack would have the answer immediately.
We presented seminars together for decades. I published his two books and he wrote for my magazines and for the InPlant association. He was proud of his degree from Carnegie Tech and always chided my RIT connection.
His house in Maryland was almost a farm with horses, goat, ducks, and more. We would go out on a small boat and feed the geese from a loaf of white bread. A house on the property had his collection of all kinds of stuff. If you stayed over, you had to be prepared for many cats to visit you. It took me years to listen in the car to all the Jack Benny radio shows he gave me.
I was waiting for his Christmas card which was an annual booklet of life at Klasnic’s Klaim, with pictures of family and animals.
He was smart, funny, and a great person. I will miss him.
Here is the official obit:
John "Jack" Klasnic, 76, of Baltimore County, died Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015, at Greater Baltimore Medical Center.
Jack had received his Bachelor of Science from Carnegie Tech and had later received an accounting degree from the University of Baltimore. He then served with the Army during during the Vietnam War. Jack founded and operated Klasnic and Associates Inc., an internationally known Graphic Arts Consulting firm, working with Blue Chip clients around the world. He had authored and published both the “In-Plant Printers’ Handbook” which was widely regarded as the “Bible of the Industry” as well as numerous magazine articles. Jack was a regular presenter on the Printing Conference Circuit, both as a lecturer for universities and as an expert witness for the government.
He enjoyed old time radio, animals, and collecting things which made him smile. Jack was a member of the Parkton American Legion Post No. 256, as well as numerous other professional organizations. Jack is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Kathleen (Carroll) Klasnic; a daughter, Kathleen J. Klasnic; a brother, William"Bill" Klasnic; a sister-in-law, Nancy Klasnic; a niece, Lynda; and two nephews, Bill Jr. and Gary.
Funeral services are at the convenience of the family.
In Jack's memory, contributions may be made to: Animal Rescue, P.O. Box 35, Maryland Line, MD 21105.
Discussion
By Paul Grieco on Dec 15, 2015
As a classmate at Carnegie Tech, and a friend for
for over fifty years, I offer my condolences to Kathleen and the entire Klasnic family on the passing
of Jack.
An old memory: Jack always remembered my advise from our college days about tasting his food before salting it at business meals. If not, he might be in danger of being labeled too routine. Jack was none of this. He will be missed. Paul Grieco, Printers Software,Inc.
By Frank Kanonik on Dec 16, 2015
Rest In Peace Jack.
May your colors always register, your fonts never substitute and your folds always be straight and true in Heavens printing company.
Condolences to your family.
By Bruce McIntosh on Dec 17, 2015
I met Jack in 1985 when he visited Australia to do some conference lectures for the Australian In-Plant Managers Association in Canberra, and we became good buddies. He came out to Australia again in 1986 at which time we renewed out friendship and during that time, he offered to do a breakfast seminar for my company, In-Plant Graphics Marketing, at the Menzies Hotel, in Sydney. Thing was, he did it for two native Australian bird figurines, which he would add to his collection back home in Maryland.
We have kept in touch since then, with him sending me his, out of this world Christmas Card each year, which he sent to all his associates and friends, within the printing industry. It was only over the past few years that we began to communicate on a weekly basis, via Skype and it was only two years ago that my wife Wendy and I stayed with Jack and Kathy, during our trip to the States, as we travelled to New York.
Jack I am going to miss you terribly mate. Who else is going to solve all the problems in the world today, obviously not politicians, as we agreed, they are the ones that create all the problems.
My most fond memory of you, Kathy and young Kat, was when we were driving down Crown Street in Sydney, taking you and the Kathies to your Hotel in North Sydney, and you saw a liquor shop sign which said, Chardonnay, $9.00 per bottle. You said pull over, drive around the block, and pick me up out front. I did as instructed and as we came around the corner, I shall never forget the sight of you standing on the sidewalk, with a carton (12 bottles) of said Chardonnay on your shoulder. Mate, that is still Classic Klasnic. I love you mate and I am going to miss you greatly. Rest easy pal, you deserve it.
By martin anson on Jan 09, 2016
Although it has been years since I have been in contact with Jack I will miss his wit and humor. Jack worked for me as our plant manager (Bindagraphics) in the middle 70's just when he was starting to focus on inplant printers as a carrier field. We also worked together at Port City Press. I think prior to Port City he was at Waverly Press. Bindagraphics is located in South Baltimore and Jack lived north of the city and had a long compute - I remember many a morning him barreling into our parking lot 1 or 2 minutes to 7am to start the shift _ down to the wire but hit the floor running.