Howard Jacobs

Celebrating the Life of Howard Jacobs

Howard "Howie" Jacobs, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend passed away surrounded by the family he cherished. Born on December 13, 1933, in Long Beach, New York, Howie lived (nearly) 92 vibrant years defined by love, adventure, generosity, and an irrepressible zest for life.

Howie is survived by his wife of 44 years, Roslyn ("Roz") Jacobs, who was his partner in every sense-at home, in family, in friendship, and across a lifetime of adventures. He is also survived by his six children and their spouses: Lisa and David Goldsmith; Jeffrey and Ellen Alexander; Betsy Jacobs and David Berliner; Jeffrey and Jordana Jacobs; Jennifer and Flip Driesen; and Jon Alexander and Amy Scheer.

Howie's joy multiplied through his beloved 14 grandchildren and granddaughter-in-law: Stephen, Jeremy and Andrew Goldsmith, Taylor, Kendall and Parker Alexander, Adam and SJ Tinker, Cleo Berliner, Max and Zoe Jacobs, Michael, Ben and Sam Driesen, and Madison Alexander. He was further blessed with two great-grandchildren, Felix and Levon Tinker.

He was predeceased by his first wife, Ann (Weinstein) Jacobs, who died tragically young.

Howie was the heart and patriarch of a large, blended, loving family. He worked tirelessly-and joyfully-to build a home filled with warmth, connection, and laughter. When he and Roz married after Anne's passing, Howie embraced Roz's three children as his own, creating a united family of six children whose bond remains evidence of his devotion. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren were his pride and delight; he rigourlessly nurtured close relationships with each one. A cherished tradition was taking each grandchild on a "10th birthday trip," building unforgettable memories. Even last week, he played with 3-year-old Felix and 1-year-old Levon with pure delight, glowing in their presence.

Howie's early life shaped his character of resilience and gratitude. He spent his childhood in Kew Gardens, Queens, in a modest apartment where he shared a bedroom with his grandmother. The youngest of three, he retained his youthful and playful personality throughout his long life. Howie attended school in Queens until his family relocated to Houston, Texas, during his junior year of high school. He graduated from Lamar High School and went on to attend the University of Texas, where he joined the ROTC program and formed lifelong friendships with his "Sammy" fraternity brothers. During summers while in college, he would hitchhike his way back north to work as a waiter at the Catskills hotel Grossingers, enjoying the hard work and easy fun of 1950's borscht belt culture. After graduating in 1956, he proudly served as a Captain in the U.S. Air Force, stationed in Adana, Turkey, as a pilot.

After his military service, Howie built a life rooted in family and professional drive. He married Ann and settled in Ellenville, New York, before moving to Maplewood, New Jersey in 1962, where they raised their three children. Following his marriage to Roz in 1981, he moved to Wayne, New Jersey, and later to the Four Seasons community in Clifton in 2015.

Howie was a born entrepreneur-creative, optimistic, and endlessly inventive. Over the course of his career, he founded and led multiple businesses in the consumer packaging world, developing products for the food, cosmetics, toy, and music industries. Among his earliest inventions was the styrofoam clamshell container-now ubiquitous in fast food packaging-though, sadly, he never patented it. At age 60, he launched Freeze-A-Frame, a magnetic photo-frame company whose products soon decorated refrigerator doors across America. He remained actively involved in the business until he passed.

Howie's success flowed from his extraordinary gift for connection and optimism. An extrovert in the best sense, he loved people and forged authentic, lasting friendships. He kept up with friends and family through calls, emails, shared photos, and his beloved family newsletter, which he took great pride in creating each year. He was the most positive person and could always be relied on for support, kindness, and a silver lining. His glass was always at least half full, usually overflowing.

Howie embraced life with boundless energy and adventure. Howie was a passionate sports fan, fiercely devoted to the University of Texas football team, and loyal to multiple New York teams: the Yankees, Giants, Knicks and Rangers. He was also an avid athlete - playing tennis with gusto and skiing until he hit his 80's. When these activities were no longer available to him, he found a new love of water volleyball- where he made close friends in a supportive community of other players, and which he continued to play three days a week until the very end. Howie and Roz traveled the world together, taking countless trips throughout the US and abroad, and were always ready for the next adventure. His appetite for thrill never flagged - just two months ago, Howie fulfilled a lifelong dream by going skydiving, accompanied by his daughter Jen and his grandson Max. That was Howie: excited to lead three generations of his family in jumping out of a plane!

Howie's greatest gift was his ability to forge meaningful bonds. He built long, deep relationships through empathy, enthusiasm, and a genuine desire to connect. He gave love freely and it returned to him many times over.

Howard Jacobs lived joyfully, loved deeply, and left the world better for the many lives he touched. His memory will continue to inspire his family and all who had the good fortune to know him.