Multidyne Video & Fiber Optic Systems founder Vincent Jachetta died on September 2 at the age of 70 of complications from Lyme disease.
Jachetta's career in broadcasting began in the late 1960s as chief engineer for Lewron, a mobile production company. He also worked for several major networks, including NBC, where he spent most of his career before establishing his own business. Jachetta was a member of the NBC team that produced a number of remote telecasts, including the Miss America Pageant, The Game of The Week in Major League Baseball, NFL games, as well as coverage of presidential conventions and elections.
He left NBC in 1977 to establish Multidyne, offering as his first product a portable test signal and identification generator. During the next three decades, Jachetta made numerous contributions to the broadcast industry in the areas of video transmission and testing. He held several patents, and was recognized for his development of long-haul video transmission equipment and A/V test gear, among other items. His two sons, James and Frank are executives with the company.
"Our father was a friend, colleague and mentor to many people in the broadcast industry," said Jim Jachetta, senior vice president of engineering and product development. "He was very thankful that we all worked in a prosperous industry with such great people and friends. Many former NBC employees followed in his footsteps to form their own companies to serve the broadcast industry. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him."
"My father was very proud that Jim and I are carrying on the MultiDyne tradition. A great void will be left by the loss of our father, friend and mentor," said Frank Jachetta, senior vice president of sales and operations.
Jachetta made his home in Locust Valley, N.Y.
Survivors also include his widow, Joan. A funeral mass was held Sept. 6, at the St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church in Glen Cove, N.Y. In lieu of flowers, the Jachetta family wishes that a charitable donation in the name of Vincent Jachetta be made to International Lyme and Associated Disease Society (ILADS) to support medical research for a cure and treatment of chronic Lyme disease. Under Special Instructions, please add the note "Donation made in the name of Vincent Jachetta."
