Jack EvansJohn Cushing "Jack" Evans was born in 1918 in Buffalo, NY, and raised in Hemlock, where he graduated valedictorian of the Hemlock School in 1935. He went on to earn his degree from the University of Rochester in 1939 and joined its Institute of Optics, helping shape one of the nation's top optical research programs.In 1953, Jack co-founded Tropel Corporation, a leader in high-precision optics. Under his guidance, the company helped revolutionize industrial and semiconductor imaging systems and was eventually acquired by Corning Incorporated. Seeking new challenges, Jack sold his stake in Tropel and in 1967 founded Velmex Inc. in Bloomfield, NY, focusing on precision motion control systems. Velmex quickly earned a national reputation and remains a respected manufacturer today.Jack never lost touch with his roots. When the Hemlock School closed in 1982, he purchased the building to preserve it for community use and as possible expansion space for Velmex. Though it proved unsuitable for company operations, Jack invested in significant upgrades-heating, electrical, and plumbing-and donated the building to the Town of Livonia, which reopened it as the Jack Evans Community Center.When the town announced its closure and auction in 2016, a grassroots movement led to the creation of a nonprofit that bought the building and formed the Little Finger Lakes Center, which thrives today as a regional hub. The gym still bears Jack's name.Jack also sold his land to the Town of Richmond at a discount for the development of Sandy Bottom Park and Beach in Honeoye, providing lasting recreational and environmental value. A lifelong sailor and member of the Oak Orchard Yacht Club, he found peace on the water and meaning in giving back. Jack Evans's legacy lives on in the companies he built, the land he preserved, and the community he protected. Through every effort, he demonstrated how one life, grounded in place and purpose, can quietly shape the future. Read More Read Less