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Richard Jacobsen Obituary
November 3, 1943 - November 14, 2020
San Diego
Jake was born in Portland, OR. He was the son of Dr. Richard W. Jacobsen and Helen Roedl Jacobsen of Altadena, CA. Jake received his BA degree at USC, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi and the USC rugby team. After receiving his MBA from UCLA, he enlisted into the Navy during the Vietnam War. He was assigned to Navy headquarters in Saigon as Command Briefer for Admiral Elmo R. "Bud" Zumwalt, Jr., Commander of U.S. Naval Forces.In 1974, Jake moved to San Diego, CA, where he held positions in the San Diego County government, including Director of Social Services and Deputy Chief Administrative Officer. Jake relocated to Charlotte, NC in 1994 to become Director of the Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services. He created a program called "Work First", which was featured in the 2011 book Mission Mystique: Belief Systems in Public Agencies by Dr. Charles T. Goodsell. As Director, the department became recognized among the nation's most effective urban social service agencies. Jake was a proud veteran. He was an avid reader and supporter of military and historical organizations. In 2016 he returned to his beloved California and home in Solana Beach to enjoy his retirement years. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Shirley Jacobsen, his son, Justin Paul Jacobsen, sister, Barbara Weller, and 12 nieces and nephews.
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Memories and Condolences
for Richard Jacobsen
3 Entries
Michael Fawcett
January 18, 2021
He was our leader at DSS, and we loved him, even when he threw the "fish" around the room for us to catch.
David C Belton
December 7, 2020
Jake took a professional and personal interest in me. He recruited me while as VP of the Chamber of Commerce to take a leadership role in welfare reform. As a result, Charlotte became the leader among the business community in making welfare reform work for both the clients and the workplace. What a visionary and advocate for those in poverty!!! His combination of brains and application skills was unrivaled. He also supported my biological search upon learning that I was the first child adopted out of NY and into NC. He will be missed dearly!!!
Norman Rosen
December 6, 2020
Richard was a good neighbor and a fascinating person with whom to have a discussion. Despite physical pain, he continued on as a true trooper.
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