It is with great sadness that we report the sudden passing of our friend and colleague, Richard Aust.
Rich joined iTi in 2013 as the Director of Technical Services. His technical expertise and leadership made him a valuable addition to our Quality and Innovation team, his warmth and good humor made him an irreplaceable member of the iTi family. Prior to joining iTi, Rich worked for more than 30 years in the food industry, primarily in product and process development for fruit juice manufacturers.
Rich was truly an innovator. He pushed the boundaries of creativity each and every day. Rich always sought out the answer to whatever question/challenge that was put in front of him. His work led to new products and technologies at iTi. His technical knowledge and expertise helped to make our Quality group a stronger and more proactive team. Rich was passionate about everything he did at iTi, whether traveling to Asia or South America, setting up our Innovation Center, or developing new products with one or more of our tropical fruits. His mentorship and guidance provided a level of support to newer employees in the early stages of their careers that was most beneficial and appreciated. iTi is a better organization because of Rich Aust, and we will surely miss him.
We send our deepest sympathy and condolences to Rich’s family. Contributions, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the Richard A. Aust Scholarship Fund at Seton Hall University, 400 South Orange Ave., South Orange, NJ 07079.
The Staff at iTi Tropicals
