“I just sent it over for you to review. Let me know if want to make any changes. I have another 20 minutes.”

He sounded slightly more hurried than he usually does.

If you know Rick Abe there is nothing hurried about him- when you around him, you feel his calming influence…you feel his thoughtfulness and his deep caring for you. You never felt he was distracted- no incoming phone calls or involuntary checking or scrolling on his phone…he is right there…on a call, in a zoom meeting, or in person…very intentional about interacting with you.

In a mercurial world, I deeply appreciated his stoic approach to life. Often, in my most intense moments, I wanted to be on call with him or have coffee with him. He would calm me, settle me, and help me find equilibrium in the moment. He was much like my father that way. It makes sense since it was my father who introduced me to this gift of a human being.

I opened the presentation file. And there it was. Clean. Clear. Elegant. Welcoming. Inspiring. Beautiful. And just like how he dressed- it just looked so good and so well put together. He took my mumbled and chaotic thoughts and produced beauty in an hour, in the clinic waiting room. Rick was an artist. I would often say to myself- I work with an artist. And of course, there were the subtle undertones of that familiar purple and yellow of the Nudj Health brand that he inspired and launched when we started the company.

He created the brand…because he is the brand. Rick Abe is the Nudj Health brand.

“Rick, this is perfect. You gave me exactly what I was looking for. Nailed it. Thank you”.

Was I shocked by the sheer elegance of the presentation design he produced in less than one hour? No, not at all. Many of you who were blessed to have worked with him over the years would not be shocked either.

But I could not determine what was more stunning- the fact that he did all that while he was waiting to get his intense chemotherapy at the clinic or that he was asking me to get additional changes I wanted before he gets wheeled in for more painful and soul-crushing treatment.

(The Founder, A Master-Class Entrepreneur- Rick Abe)

Stunning. Yes. But that was Rick- So noble. So humble. So caring. So elegant. So creative. So purposeful. So ready to serve…..even in the most intense, life or death moments. He did it because he so profoundly believed in Nudj.

He was my friend, my conscience and the beating heart of the mission and purpose of the company. When I was distracted or confused….he was there to re-align me around or mission and around our why.

I remember, five years ago when we started the company, we sat together in the Pasadena office and he asked me- why are we building this? Why do something as crazy as build another company in healthcare. I gave him a rambling and loquacious response.

I asked him. Why build Nudj? He was already successful enough to just spend time with his beautiful family, play with his grandchildren, and enjoy the world and time with them.

"Because it is good for humanity.”

Just weeks after his initial cancer diagnosis, Rick and I embraced each other on the streets of Pasadena, holding each other and crying. I cried on his shoulder…weeping…my breathe heaving heavy into his shoulder blades. I was crying on his shoulder, even though he was the one dealing with the heavy news. As I embraced him, I realized how thin and bony he had become. This professional ballroom dancer. This collegiate gymnast. This Renaissance man. This man of deep faith. This Chief Creative Officer. He was felt so fragile. But there he was- Holding me. Assuring me. Caring for me…..

Rick is not only my mentor, but he is who I strive to be. We will all be better humans if we incorporated more of Rick Abe in our lives.

To the Nudj Family- he truly loved all of you. On that day in Pasadena, he handed me a book- What Do You Do With An Idea?

On the inside page, he wrote me a note that I believe was meant for all of us. I share it with you here (also attached).

“Dear Yuri,

A good idea can be nurtured and grown but sometimes it can be at the expense of humanity. Thank you for recognizing that the very best ideas are not at the expense of humanity but for the sake of humanity.

You and I have weathered many different challenges over the years, and it has been my absolute honor to stand with you. Thank you for making this chapter of my life one of meaning- both in what we do and how we do it.

Cheers to the next chapter!

With love and gratitude for our friendship

Rick”

Rick Abe passed away on Thursday. But he will always be here with us at Nudj, watching and guiding us from above.

He truly loved Nudj.

I love you, Rick Abe. We all love you, Rick Abe. Thank you for everything.

Here is to us building the next chapter with his spirit, soul, and his character deep inside us all.

RIP.