Joseph Jacobson

Joseph Jacobson D.D.S.
Age 103

On July 22, 2009, Dr. Joseph Jacobson passed away in Cedars Sinai hospital surrounded by loved ones. Beloved father of Richard (Pamela) and Linda Jacobson, and adored by his four grandchildren, David (Kuniko), Michael, Peter and Jacqueline Jacobson, Dr. Jacobson was born in Cleveland, Ohio on July 5, 1906. His family moved to Los Angeles when he was one year old. His father Samuel, a Russian Jew, immigrated to the US as a teenager. Dr. Jacobson attended Logan Street school, LA High, and USC's dental school, graduating in 1929. As a child and young adult, he was an extra in the movies, appearing in the Jazz Singer, the first "talkie," with Al Jolson. His dog, Boots, also did movie work, and had a large role in Laurel and Hardy's film, "Swiss Miss."

"Dr. J" was a dentist, practicing in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills for 62 years. Loved and respected by his patients, he treated several celebrities, including Elvis Presley, Jimmy Durante and a former Miss Norway. He also examined Clark Gable while serving in the U.S. Army during World War II. Dr. Jacobson proudly served with distinction as a Captain in the U.S. Army Dental Corps, landing on Omaha beach just after D-Day. He was awarded 4 combat medals.

Dr. Jacobson frequently said he was a lucky man because he "met two soul-mates." The first, his wife Betty, passed away in 1987. Phyllis Lavitt (18 years his junior), whom he met after Betty died, has been his loving "girlfriend" since 1989.

Joseph Jacobson, a terrific athlete, was a gymnast when young, and had a single-digit handicap in golf, which he played passionately until the age of 94, only retiring out of consideration for other golfers, saying "I wouldn't play with anyone as bad as I am now when I was younger." An accomplished raconteur and humorist, he loved telling tall tales and funny jokes. He also loved music, had a wonderful operatic singing voice, and began playing the piano in his 70s. He returned to his first love, art, when he retired in 1991. An excellent draftsman, he loved drawing the human figure.

In his later years, Dr. Jacobson went back to "school" as he called it, attending OPICA (a day care center for memory impaired adults), which he enjoyed very much.

Joseph Jacobson lived a long and wonderful life, and his family, friends and former patients will miss him very much. Services will be today at 10am at Mt. Sinai (5950 Forest Lawn Dr., LA). In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to OPICA (www.opica.org (tribute page); 310-478-0226).