BAYSIDE, N.Y.–Jack Badash, founder of Badash Crystal passed away in April at his home here. He was 92.

Badash joined the gift industry as a shipping clerk for Koscherak Brothers after graduating high school in 1936.  Nine years later, he borrowed his immigrant shoemaker father’s life savings of $1,800 to begin Javit Badash, Inc., said his son, Mark Badash. For a period, Javit became one of the largest U.S. firms producing hand- and machine-cut glassware, with placement in every major department store in the United States, according to Mark Badash.

“Jack was a creative product developer and a dynamic salesman,” Badash said. “He developed many close relationships with customers, suppliers and sales reps alike.”

In 1979 Badash sold the company to Lenny Florence, head of the Towle Manufacturing Company. He continued to work for the company for about two years before leaving the business. Retirement did not suit him, however, and in 1984, he began Jack Badash Inc., another glass manufacturing business with similar domestic production. Mark Badash joined him in 1987, and helped to expand purchasing to Europe and importing from Russia. The company gradually evolved into Badash Crystal, of which Mark Badash is now president.

“He loved his family and enjoyed fishing, sports, great food, gaming in Las Vegas, and was a huge supporter of Israel,” Badash said. “He believed in the American dream and his life was an American success story. He had a burning entrepreneurial spirit with a persistence seldom found in today’s world. He will be sorely missed.”

Jack is survived by Phyllis, his wife of 63 years, three children, five grandchildren and two sisters who are 90 and 94.