A Tribute to the late Mr. John Lucht
RiteSite Founder and Critically Acclaimed Book Author

We are saddened at the death of John Lucht, our founder, creator of RiteSite.com and John Lucht Consultancy. John died at the age of 81 in April 2015 after a brief illness, peacefully at home surrounded by neighbors and loved ones.

From Timeless Treasures - Elmer Krueger - Poet and businessman Reedsburg, WI

Many years from now it will not matter how rich or poor I was, or the kind of house I lived in, but rather that I was important in the life of someone.

John Lucht was born June 1st 1933 in Reedsburg, Wisconsin, the son of Carl and Ruth (Shultis) Lucht. After attending high school in Reedsburg, John went on to earn his B.S. and J.D. degrees from the University of Wisconsin. John worked his way through college by helping at his father’s garage, patching tires when tires still had inner tubes, and as radio announcer for a small radio station and University of Wisconsin radio. Those who met and worked with John know that throughout his life he possessed a strong, clear radio quality voice. In his early year of college, John assisted a German couple couple who ran a small radio station powered by windmill at their farm. The radio call sign letters were WIBU (Wind Is Being Used). I remember John saying that on occasion, a cow would arrive at the window in the middle of broadcasting.

After college, John spent a decade working in consumer products advertising, marketing and general management at J. Walter Thompson Company, Bristol-Myers, and Tetley Tea. One of John’s favorite TV shows was “Mad Men,” about 1960s advertising in New York City which John described as authentic to his experience.

John left advertising and went on to become one of America's top executive recruiters working in New York at Heidrick and Struggles, America’s second-largest search firm, where John was prominent member and then an officer. In 1977, after 6 years with Heidrick and Struggles, John founded “The John Lucht Consultancy” which soon became one of America’s leading retainer-compensated executive search boutiques. John recruited CEOs and heads of virtually every major function in a wide range of industries and in educational and cultural institutions as well. By doing so, John helped executives with one life’s top three priorities... their Career. John was important in the life of someone, important in the lives of many someone(s).

We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give’

Sir Winston Churchill

As an alert observer and a gifted writer, John Lucht was also a highly successful author. His Rites of Passage at $100,000 to $1 Million+ has consistently been America's and the world's #1 bestseller on executive job-changing and career management since it first appeared in 1988. His other books are the Executive Job-Changing Workbook and the widely acclaimed Insights for the Journey...Navigating to Thrive, Enjoy and Prosper in Senior Management.

In 2001, John launched RiteSite.com providing ability to assist a still wider executive audience. RiteSite.com offered, and offers, unique tools such as “Email my Resume” which permits submitting your resume to hundreds of select leading retained search firms. This feature of RiteSite is used daily by RiteSite’s executive members starting new job searches. RiteSite also contains John’s “RiteSite University,” “Memos from John,” and “Insights for the Journey,” providing career advice. John initiated RiteSite feature “Identity Concealed resume” so executives can look for career advancement opportunities while still in their current position. You may find it interesting that original development of RiteSite.com was by a software company in New Zealand.

Johns’ book readers and website members describe what his contribution meant to them in the following texts, which are only a few of the many grateful communications received at RiteSite. (Company information and names removed)

John, I have been a registered user for several years, ever since I purchased your book. I have followed your precepts and best practices for years and patiently worked on my resume, skillsets and network. I wanted to let you know that I was unemployed when we first spoke, and I am now the CIO of a small, publicly held IP Broadcasting company. Since the time we first spoke, I have continued to move up through the IT management strata, moving from Vice President of IT for a non-profit professional association to my new role as CIO. I want to thank you for all your support and insight. As a man of faith, I know that God used you in a powerful way to help me be a better executive and progressively move my career forward. Thank you very much John…

Dear Mr. John Lucht, Thank you for the good news, - I am excited and looking forward to your new book! Your prior books, The Right of Passage and The Workbook and How to Succeed has been a real life-changer. In fact, ten years ago I got the very first >100K job and a life style of my dreams (doubled the prior salary) via your website. It was just the beginning. The rest is history! I am very blessed professionally and financially and love what I am doing. In addition, your books gave a good perspective on the potential employment challenges and strategies for the "golden age" executives. Thus, I am getting ready by planning way ahead, developing strategies to stay marketable and prepare skills and connections for "plans B and C". This month I also introduced your website to my son. He is now a member! I am giving him your new book when it comes on Amazon! Thank you for all your work! With kind regards…

John was ahead of his time when hiring for his businesses, practicing “Diversity & Inclusion” long before the term came to popular use. Joining with John meant becoming part of an extended family. With John Lucht Consultancy spanning 38 plus years, there were more than a few of us. John provided direct employment in his business, he and his first bookkeeper worked together for over 24 years. John also created opportunity to work remotely with associations in multiple states such as Iowa, North Carolina, New York, and Louisiana, to name a few. Surprisingly, many of us who worked with John for over a decade did not have the opportunity to meet John in person. Our children compared our relationship to the “Charlie’s Angels” TV show. They felt they knew John well listening to speaker phone conversations over the years and then marveled that we had never met. John C. Lucht, John’s middle initial IS “C” for Charles.

During a portion of his time in New York, John lived in the Olympic tower located in Midtown Manhattan next to St. Patrick’s Cathedral. He enjoyed living downtown with bustling activity and a view of the city. In 2008, John moved to Raleigh North Carolina’s PNC Plaza. In his mid-seventies, after his move to North Carolina, John added yet another set of friends who quickly became dedicated fans. Working in the business he loved, John’s enjoyment was always being able to help others. The mixture of friends who arrived from out of state to attend John’s Reedsburg Wisconsin funeral represent the many who were touched by John personally and through his business.

John was a member of the First Baptist Church on Salisbury Street in Raleigh; he was an avid patron of the North Carolina Symphony and never missed a concert until overtaken with illness. His friends shared and enjoyed his sense of humor, his many stories of Manhattan in the Olympic Tower on Fifth Avenue.

I have one life and one chance to make it count for something… My faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have to try to make a difference.

— Jimmy Carter

Rites of Passage paperback edition is the 2014 latest revision of John’s book. John authored, edited, and created books using his favorite Apple MAC series computers and was age 80 when he released his 2014 edition, this after learning how to use the latest publishing software. John continued to make a difference by revising and publishing his books, shortly before his passing John was still helping others who sought career advice.

We thank John for his friendship, advice, and for permitting us to be extended members of his family. We’re privileged to be among those whose lives have been changed and enriched by his sharing, mentorship, and care.

What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.

— Nelson Mandela

John’s legacy will continue to live on as those of us who worked with John strive to continue RiteSite's mission. We do this by maintaining and improving RiteSite, which continues to offer John’s timeless advice; “Memos from John,” “Insights for the Journey,” and John's “RiteSite University”

The great use of life is to spend it for something that outlasts it.

— William James

Anyone wishing to honor John's memory can do so with a donation to the North Carolina Symphony - Official Site http://www.ncsymphony.org/