New London, New Hampshire
1924 - 2010
NEW LONDON -- The Rev. Dr. Alf E. Jacobson, 86, of Burpee Hill Road, died April 18, 2010, at the New London Hospital.
He was born in Spokane, Wash., on April 4, 1924, the son of Carl and Emmy (Borjesson) Jacobson. He lived in Muncie, Ind., before moving to New London in 1958. He received an A.A. degree from North Park College in 1948, a B.S. degree from Northwestern University in 1952, a master's degree from Tufts in 1954 and a doctorate from Harvard in 1963.
He was a professor of economics at Colby-Sawyer College from 1958 to 1986 and was faculty emeritus. From 1969 to 1978, he served as New London state senator; from 1975 to 1981, he was state Senate president; and from 1982 to 1992 and 1994 until 2001, he served as a state representative.
He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II and acted as the battalion interpreter because he was fluent in Japanese and Swedish. He could also speak German and Spanish.
He was very active in the town serving as a Tracy Memorial Library trustee, 1960-1963; planning board member, 1965-1971; town moderator, 1970-1973; selectman, 1973-1985; town welfare director, 1993-1997; Kearsarge Regional School District moderator, 1968-1984; New London Historical Society member. He was an original trustee of Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust in 1987.
He hosted "More than the Two of Us," a radio talk show on WNTK.
He received the A.S.C.A. American Church History Society Book Award in 1965, the North Park College Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1983 and the New Hampshire ACLU Bill of Rights Award in 1994. In 2001, the New London Service Organization presented Alf and his wife, Sonja, with the Third-of-a-Century Award for outstanding community service.
He enjoyed collecting "old paper," letters from or to the New Hampshire Civil War soldiers, books, stamps, coins and hats. He liked to collect.
Family members include his wife of 58 years, Sonja (Torstenson) Jacobson of New London; two sons, Brent B. Jacobson of New London and Kurt T. Jacobson of Dover; and a granddaughter.
SERVICES: Calling hours are Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Chadwick Funeral Home, 235 Main St., New London. A funeral service will be held Saturday at 3 p.m. at The First Baptist Church of New London. Burial will be in Old Main Street Cemetery, New London.
Memorial contributions may be made to Colby-Sawyer College, 541 Main St., New London, NH 03257. To sign an online guestbook, please visit www.chadwickfuneralservice.com.
I was very sorry to learn of Alf's passing. He was a great legislator and selectman, a fine educator, an avid collector, and a true gentleman. New London has lost one of its most revered citizens.
My sympathy to Sonja and all of Alf's family.
Francis C Evans, MD
Francis Evans
May 04, 2010 | Palm Coast, FL
Liz and I send our love and prayers of thanksgiving for the gift of Alf's friendship and the wonderful times we shared when he taught in our Elderhostel program at Pilgrim Pines. We loved our times with Alf and Sonja, the stories, collecting of "junk" and sharing our Swedish heritage. You have blessed our lives Alf and modeled for us what it means to live your life to make a difference in our world. Shalom! Chuck and Liz Anderson
Chuck Anderson
April 28, 2010 | Swanzey, NH
Just got the news of Alf’s death from Don and Terri who kept us up-to-date through the years. Many, many will remember Alf’s great intellect and spirit and countless contributions to quality life in New Hampshire. Our thoughts and prayers go to you at your great loss.
Larry and Betty Nilson
April 26, 2010 | Edmonds, WA
Alf was my pastor when I was a teenager. He shepherded our small Covenant church in Beverly Massachusetts. He was my comfirmation teacher and our youth group leader. Always full of fun and patience, he drove us bowling, roller skating, to summer camp in Connecticut and to activities with other Covenant youth all over Massachusetts. As a batchelor, he spent time at our home, with our parents and my five siblings. We considered him one more member of Johnson family. After he and Sonja...
April 24, 2010
Alf was a great citizen of democracy in New London and in New Hampshire. His memory will live on!
Cotton Cleveland
April 23, 2010 | New London, NH
Condolences during this difficult time.
Sarah Wall
April 22, 2010 | Kansas City, MO
I was a college roommate of Alf's back in 1948-49 at North Park. Alf was always a delight to know and full of life and a myriad of interests. He regaled the rest of his roommates with war stories and his duties as Jaspanese interpreter. I will always remember Alf and Sonja.
--Ralph Youngman, Batavia, Illinois
Ralph Youngman
April 22, 2010 | Batavia, IL
I served with Alf on the Primex Board of Trustees from the time it was formed in 2000 until Alf left the Board in 2005. I enjoyed his sense of humor and his council.
Paul Partenope
April 21, 2010 | Gorham, NH
I spent five years on the staff of the NH House, four of those working with "Representative Jacobson" (as I always respectfully referred to him) as researcher for the Judiciary Committee. You never came away from a meeting run by Alf without a few smiles and a good laugh or two. Though he described himself as "old and decrepit" and "just an old country boy," his insight and intelligence were the center of many important discussions. I particularly remember sitting with Alf and discussing his...
Kevin Moquin
April 21, 2010 | Concord, NH
