JOHN W. JACOBSEN

1945 - 2023

JACOBSEN, John W. John W. Jacobsen, Museum Planner, Author, Dies at 77 A Renaissance man with a gentlemanly demeanor who helped shape the direction and development of museums in the U.S. and around the world, John W. Jacobsen, age 77, died at his home in Marblehead, Massachusetts, on January 12, with his wife, Jeanie Stahl, by his side. His careers followed his varied interests, which led him from theater scenic design to show and film production and finally, for thirty years, to his beloved museum field. In 1988 he founded White Oak Associates, which led strategic planning initiatives for more than 100 museums. He joined the Boston Museum of Science in 1985 as Associate Director, where, under the leadership of Dr. Roger Nichols, he executive produced the Museum's $24 million Hall Wing and Mugar Omni Theater and oversaw the making of the popular IMAX short film, New England Time Capsule. He led the museum's marketing campaign for the blockbuster exhibit, Ramesses The Great, resulting in 2.2 million visitors in a year. John and his wife, Jeanie Stahl, later co-executive produced the IMAX film, The Living Sea, produced by MacGillivray Freeman Films with narration by Meryl Streep and music by Sting. It was nominated for an Academy Award in 1995. John was raised in Pittsburgh and Brazil, where, for eight years, John's father ran U.S. Steel's mining and steel production operations. His parents, Eric and Mary Jacobsen were Australian and Canadian ex-pats who wed in Montreal and relocated to the U.S. At Yale University John's early interest in science and biochemistry were soon replaced by a passion for art and theater. In 1967 he received a BA in Art History and in 1969 an MFA in Theater Scenic Design from Yale Drama School. He taught scenic design at several Boston area colleges and during those years directed scenery and lighting design for more than 60 theater productions. In the early 1970s, the advent of multimedia theater led him to take on his first museum project – The Salem Witch Museum about the 1692 witch trials. He developed an innovative in-the-round presentation using life-sized stage sets and dramatic lighting and sound. Fifty years later, it remains the most attended attraction in Salem. The project's success led him and colleagues to form White Oak Design, which produced sound and light shows, attracting visitors for decades to come. Among others, these included The Whites of Their Eyes, commemorating the Boston Bicentennial, and An Elizabethan Pageant in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, which was opened by Her Royal Highness Princess Anne in 1979. Through mutual friends, John met the love of his life, the singer-songwriter Jeanie Stahl. They married in 1982 and settled in Marblehead's historic district, north of Boston, and became, as he liked to say, "partners in everything," Following his tenure at the Museum of Science, John formed White Oak Associates, with Jeanie joining the company as vice president. Over the next 30 years they led strategic planning initiatives and development for museums worldwide. As the museum boom slowed, their work shifted from new museums to sustaining existing museums through the White Oak Institute, a nonprofit they formed, dedicated to conducting and disseminating research on museum impact and performance. They received grants from the National Science Foundation, the American Alliance of Museums, and the Association of Children's Museums, among others. Throughout their marriage, John refined his woodworking and cooking skills. An avid reader and book collector, he built a cherrywood library for his home office and indulged his passion for cooking, delighting their circles of friends with exceptional multi-course meals. After retirement, John wrote three books for the museum community, published by Rowman and Littlefield, which detail White Oak's process, innovations and planning frameworks. He was an instrumental member of the planning committee for the renovation of the Abbot Public Library in Marblehead. He served as a volunteer advisor to the Boston Museum of Science and the Emily Dickinson Museum, among others. He also pursued his interest in writing mysteries. His three Merriman Institute mysteries remain unpublished but honor his favorite mystery writers, convey his values, and reflect his life experiences. In addition to his wife, John is survived by his sisters, Marian Langdon and Joan Halbert, nieces and nephews, and close friends and colleagues who were like family to him. A Celebration of his Life will be held in late spring in Marblehead. In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be made to the museum of your choice. Eustis & Cornell of Marblehead eustisandcornellfuneralhome.com

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