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VIOLET JACOBS Obituary
OCTOBER 4, 1915 - JANUARY 12, 2015
Violet Jabara was the daughter of Syrian immigrants. Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1915, she was an avid reader and a lively child, the first of her family to attend college. She graduated from Wellesley in 1937 with a major in languages. After a gap year, which she spent in Beirut, she met and married Joseph Jacobs, also a second-generation Syrian. They were married in Brooklyn in 1942 and moved to northern California in 1945. They started a family and had three daughters, Margaret, Linda and Valerie. Joe founded Jacobs Engineering in 1947, and they moved to Pasadena shortly after.
Vi was active in building the business from a startup to what is now one of the largest
engineering companies in the world. She and Joe were philanthropists, believing that they should return to their country and community a large part of their fortune. They set up the Jacobs Family Foundation in 1987 in San Diego and gave generously to Brooklyn Polytechnic, Joe's alma mater, as well as to the Sam Maloof Foundation and the Lebanese Ladies Cultural Society to provide scholarships for Lebanese children.
After Joe's death in 2004, Vi continued her own philanthropic interests by providing major support to the Near East Foundation, Huntington Hospital, the Elementary Institute of Science, the Carmel Bach Festival, and the Los Angeles Master Chorale.
Vi moved into assisted living in 2012 and adapted cheerfully and fully to it. She was known as the "mayor" of the residence, because she knew the name of every resident and every staff person. She greeted every person she saw, provided them with candy and cookies at every opportunity, and listened with interest to whatever they had to tell her. They in turn loved her. She went out to dinner with friends several times a week, played blackjack, bingo, bridge and Scrabble with gusto, and never lost her enthusiasm and curiosity.
She kept everyone around her grounded, because she never lost her humility, her sense of humor, or her insistence on the truth. She had a keen eye and a big heart-a winning combination.
Vi is survived by her daughters, Linda Jacobs and Valerie Jacobs Hapke and Valerie's family: her husband, Norman, and Vi's two grandchildren, Andrew and Claire. Her eldest daughter, Meg Jacobs, passed away in February, 2012. Her beloved husband, Joe Jacobs, passed away on October 23, 2004.
A memorial service and reception will be held on Saturday, January 24 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1757 North Lake Ave., Altadena, CA 91104 on January 24th at 4 PM. All are invited.
Donations in her name may be sent to Carmel Bach Festival (www.bachfestival.org).
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for VIOLET JACOBS
Ann Mallouk
February 10, 2015
Dear Linda and Valerie,
Please accept my sincere condolences on the loss of your dear mother. Joe and Vi and George Mallouk grew up together in Brooklyn, and Vi and Joe never forgot old friends. It was always a joy to be with them when they came east or we visited California.
Vi and Joe were exceptionally talented, loving and generous people. It is also delightful to know that that later Vi moved to assisted living where she was known as "the Mayor."
God bless
Well done good and faithful one!
Ann Mallouk
January 28, 2015
I'm so sorry for your loss. -1 Corinthians 15:26
January 26, 2015
I feel fortunate to have known Violet Jabora Jacobs through her daughter, Dr. Linda Jacobs. Vi was an articulate and intelligent advocate for what she loved: music, words, and her family. She also knew how to truly enjoy life. I particularly remember one morning sitting with Vi and Linda in a light-filled nook of the house in Monterey as we went over the agenda for the day -- a long day of music and good friends at the Bach Festival. When we had finished, Vi lifted her face to the sun, smiled as though she had just realized what a good day it was going to be, and said, quietly, and with great joy, "Oh."
Thank you for providing this site; my best regards to the family.
January 23, 2015
Aunt Vi was an inspiration to all who knew her. Her zest for life will remain her legacy. We loved you Aunt Vi and will miss you always.
Barbara and Fayez.
Mark Talbrook
January 23, 2015
From the moment she said to call her "Mom" I was hooked. Her good heart and fierce intelligence in observation of all around her was the finest thing in the world to me.
I admired her so much.
Her great spirit was always a lesson in how to navigate the challenges of the world with love and integrity.
I miss her.
As with all those she touched, I will always carry part of her with me.
January 23, 2015
Our sympathy goes out to you during this time of sorrow: beautiful, strong, gemerous, courageous, fearless, compassionate woman. May our Maker, and the Comforter surround you as you travel this period of bereavement. God bless.
Robert, Ardelle, Brian Matthews
Lynn Wood
January 23, 2015
This was a wonderful tribute. Love to all of you.
farrell brickhouse
January 23, 2015
Violet Jabara, Ms Jacobs was always so kind to me and my wife, always curious about what we were up to when we would get to see here in NYC. Qualities she passed down to her daughter Linda. A lovely important life lived.
Helen Hatab Samhan
January 22, 2015
Aunt Vi exemplified for me the grit, wisdom and grace of our parents' generation. She was both tenacious and modest--rare in our day. I too am blessed to have known her. May her memory be eternal.
Ellen & Moke Jones
January 21, 2015
Aunt Vi has left a huge void in our family. She also leaves behind a shining example of a life lived with love and generosity. We miss her. Love, Ellen & Moke
ISSAM JABARA
January 21, 2015
LADY "VIOLET" WAS A MARVELOUS WOMAN...DAUGHTER OF UNCLE "FAYAD MASSOUD JABARA", " UNCLE FAYAD WAS VERY WELL KNOWN IN USA , LEBANON TOO ...".MR JACOBS "FATHER OF LYNDA "TOLD US THE WAY HE APPROACHED TO ASK THE HAND OF "VIOLET" IN A LUNCH WITH DECEASED " ANT FLORENCE "...HUSBAND MR "JACOBS" BECAME WORLD WIDE KNOWN IN ENGINEERING , BUSINESS ..MY DEEP CONDOLENCES TO HER DAUGHTER LYNDA,ALL THE FAMILY."INCLUDING SHRINE" MAY. " SOUL OF FANTASTIC WOMAN " VIOLET" REST IN PEACE.
ISSAM JABARA
January 21, 2015
LADY "VIOLET" WAS A MARVELOUS WOMAN...DAUGHTER OF UNCLE "FAYAD MASSOUD JABARA", " UNCLE FAYAD WAS VERY WELL KNOWN IN USA , LEBANON TOO ...".MR JACOBS "FATHER OF LYNDA "TOLD US THE WAY HE APPROACHED TO ASK THE HAND OF "VIOLET" IN A LUNCH WITH DECEASED " ANT FLORENCE "...HUSBAND MR "JACOBS" BECAME WORLD WIDE KNOWN IN ENGINEERING , BUSINESS ..MY DEEP CONDOLENCES TO HER DAUGHTER LYNDA,ALL THE FAMILY."INCLUDING SHRINE" MAY. " SOUL OF FANTASTIC WOMAN " VIOLET" REST IN PEACE.
Kathy and Ken Kunkle
January 21, 2015
Linda and Val,
Our love to you at the passing of Aunt Vi. We feel the loss in our hearts as she was very dear to Ken and me. May God's Presence and His Peace surround you during this time.
Peter & Lynn Jabara
January 20, 2015
Dear Linda and Valerie We are so sorry for the loss of Aunt Vi our prayers and thoughts are with you & your family she will be missed terribly. Love Peter & Lynn
NORMAN HAPKE
January 20, 2015
In addition to all the wonderful things others have said, you will not be surprised to find that she was the dearest, sweetest mother-in law I could ever hope to have had. She was so kind and considerate and self-efacing, and so complimentary to me that in the 36 years I knew her there was not a moment that I did not cherish her.
Graham Passmore-Cox
January 20, 2015
Yes...Vi did remember everyone's name. We'll remember this with a smile. Graham and Donata
January 20, 2015
I am so lucky to have known Linda and then Vi. What wonderful women who have given so much to the world. I will always remember the Scrabble games you two enjoyed. Fondly, Emily Rosenberg
Jo Dierdorff
January 20, 2015
Vi was the sweetest person. It was always a joy to see her..the mother of "my oldest friend", as I call Linda. Vi always had questions to ask and wonderful conversation to share. I/ am so thankful to have known her.
Clifford/Beverly Jacobs
January 20, 2015
Dear Linda and Valerie,
Beverly and Cliff offer our sincere condolences on the loss of your mother. We are thankful that you were with her at her passing and that she was at peace. Aunt Vi was such a dear and caring person to us. Cliff has many warm memories of Aunt Vi that over sixty years, like the time she and Joe took Cliff in after he hitchhiked across the country and visiting in her Pasadena home where she expounded on her passion for crossword puzzle.
As you know our parents had closely intertwined lives many year ago in Brooklyn that indelibly shaped their respect and love for each other. Vi's passing is not only a singular event of sadness; it is the culmination of reflective remorse, because she was the last of Jacobs clan.
Sincerely,
Cliff and Beverly Jacobs
Kathryn Goria
January 20, 2015
Missing you already, Auntie. Kath
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