Hello everyone. With Jolanta's blessing I will be participating in memory of Jan in the Walk for Maggie's Manchester 2024 event. It's a sponsored walk to raise funds to help support people and their families suffering with cancer in Manchester. Jan visited Maggie's House during his treatment before he passed. If you would like to make a small donation through JustGiving the link is here: 

https://www.justgiving.com/pa…

While I never met Jan personally,he was a Bradford lad like myself and we had many a chat over the airwaves about railways in general & The Queensbury Lines/Tunnel in particular.He’ll be much missed by all of us.

DS Sales Kick off

I worked with Jan for just a brief period on an opportunity at Dassault Systemes. We travelled to Scotland together to visit the client. Jan made a big impression on me for his openness, willing to expand his horizons and support in any way he could. Jan was always smiling and always full of great ideas! I thoroughly enjoyed working with Jan and was extremely sad and shocked by this news. I wish Jan's family and friends my deepest condolences and strength to get through this very difficult time.

We are deeply saddened by the news as the Dassault Systemes Committee of European Company, where Jan represented all of his UK colleagues.

All these years, he was there to be the voice of his UK friends and colleagues in front of the DS executive board. His opinion was always valued and taken into consideration.

He was also a close friend with whom we could spend quality time and benefit from his wise life experience.

Our heartfelt condolences go out to Jan's family. We wish you strength during this difficult time.

Nariman Aga-Tagiyev

Dassault Systemes Committee of European Company (CEC)

Special negotiation body of the CEC

Committee of European Company Consultation meeting

Committee of European Company Consultation meeting

Workshop with the CEC

Committee of European Company - social time with team

Committee of European Company meeting

My deepest condolences to the Family 🖤🖤🖤

Family visit — with Basia and Andrzej

As a colleague of Jan from Germany who didn´t even worked very closely together with Jan I still wanted to share something here because of the special character that Jan had. 

I met Jan as a young consultant in the company and how openly, friendly and warm he welcomed about 6 years ago at one of our Kick off events in Monaco stayed with me for a long time. He stood out of a crowed of people because of his warm heart and kindness that he was not afraid to show even in his professional life. That was really impressive to me and inspirational. 

Mein herzliches Beileid an Jans Familie! (my deep condolence to Jans family)   

My deepest condolences to Jan's family on the passing of your dear Jan.  I was a  colleague of Jan's in the Dassault Systemes Committee for the European Company where Jan was always an excellent contributor.  He  represented the UK  in the CEC with great diligence and always had a smile and a kind word for everyone.  All of us on the committee enjoyed Jan's company both professionally and socially over a pint when we met up in Velizy where he told us about his Polish roots, his family and his love of music.  He will be very much missed! 

RIP Jan!

Sincere sympathies,

Julie O'Driscoll

CEC rep. for Ireland

I am so very sorry to hear of Jan's passing.

As a young graduate working on client accounts in the Infrastructure & Territories sector, I felt my lack of experience keenly - especially surrounded by such experts in the field! Jan was always incredibly kind, patient and light-hearted in our interactions. He was able to explain CATIA functionality in a way that didn't feel overwhelming, or insurmountable, as well as having the charm to bring his personality and humour to the conversation. I very much enjoyed my brief time working with Jan and he will be hugely missed by myself and the 3DS team. 

My thoughts are with the Rapacz family and Jan's loved ones. 

Paige Gelder, Internal Communications EURONORTH. 

I think I met Jan for the first time some 10 years ago when we were both working in Dassault Systemes. We were supposed to see a customer the other day and Jan invited us to his favorite Indian restaurant, which somehow then would become a kind of habit for us whenever I would later on travel to the UK. I immediately felt a bond between us but I could never really pinpoint what it was. There were so many qualities which fascinated me with Jan: There was this tall man, who was extremely proud of his polish heritage and the culture. Then there was this man, who embodied all the finest qualities of what I, as a foreigner, would associate with a classic british gentleman. Despite him being around ten years older than me, we somehow bonded over time as we both realized that we had a love for electric guitars. At some point he sent me a picture of him playing his beloved Fender Stratocaster on a stage with his band sometimes in 1978. So here was something to bond over and as time went by we learned more of each other. I do not exaggerate when I say that I felt he would have been the perfect bigger brother to me. Rest in peace, my friend. You will not be forgotten. My thoughts and prayers are with you, the family, in your time of grief. My sincere condolences.

Moje koncolencje z powodu Jana.

Jan byl pierwsza osoba jaka poznalam w Dassault Systemes - i pamietam jak sie ucieszyl kiedy okazalo sie ze jestem z Polski - teraz bede i w pracy mogl rozmawiac po Polsku... mowi .

Pamietam jak w 2019 w Londynie podrozowlismy razem w autobusie , w londynskim korku z walizkami na kolanach i rozmawailsmy o zyciu w UK i w Polsce, Jan opowiadal o swoich dzieciach i zonie i zadawal duzo pytan o moje zycie w Polsce.

Zawsze bylo bardzo milo spotkac Jana i porozmawiac.

Spoczywaj w Spokoju Jan

Bedzie nam Ciebie brakowalo.

Patrycja Siergiej 

I had the privilege of working with Jan for many years at Dassault Systemes. He was regularly my partner in crime and we enjoyed many business trips together, travelling around the UK, staying in hotels, enjoying our evenings together. The one that really stands out  was when he took me to Café Maja @ POSK in Hammersmith, the Polish Social and Cultural Association. He walked me around the gallery they have there, explaining and commenting on the exhibits with such knowledge, pride and warmth. Then he took me to dinner where we an incredible a Polish feast! He took me through each menu item, explaining in detail what it was how it was prepared, recommending this or that delicacy. I will never forget that special evening, nor my good friend Jan Rapacz. Sincere condolences to his loving family.

Dear Jolanta and family,

My deepest condolences at this time. I like many others knew Jan at both IBM and Dassault. We had many a chat about his love of trains and the Queensbury tunnel project - which is near to where I grew up. Jan was always the consummate gentleman, never getting flustered, always willing to help. He leaves me with very fond memories.

David Wilkinson - Technical Sales - Dassault Systemes. 

Regale me with many stories, but when we went out to eat, he always chose fish and chips with mushy peas. Well apart from the curries in Kenilworth. He will be sorely missed, and really enjoyed my time travelling with him all over the country.