Vitamin C Entrepreneur Jay Patrick Passes at 90
Jay Patrick, founder of Foothill Ranch-based vitamin products maker Alacer Corp., died in late February at the age of 90.
Patrick, a native of San Diego, started Alacer in 1970 based on his research into vitamin C. That same year, he developed a timed-release vitamin C tablet that included ascorbates, along with other vitamins and minerals.
Today, Alacer is best known for its Emer’gen-C vitamin powders that are mixed with water.
In 1936, Patrick got his start on Wall Street working for Lord Abbott and Co. A few years later he started Flex Record Co., where he developed what was billed as the first paper-based sound recording blanks.
In 1940, Patrick went to work for Detrx Corp. in Detroit and supervised the installation of metal procession equipment as part of the war effort. After the war, he founded Tect Inc. in New Jersey, where he came up with a solvent to replace carbon tetrachloride.
