George Howard ‘Jake’ Jacobus
By Emily J. Minor
GULF STREAM — George Howard “Jake” Jacobus, described as a brilliant businessman and outdoor adventurer who would much rather have talked about family and philanthropy rather than the successful development company he once co-founded and ran, died Jan. 8.
Mr. Jacobus was 82.
Born in Caldwell, N.J., at the height of the Great Depression, Mr. Jacobus was a natural athlete and student leader, graduating from Dartmouth College in 1953 with a degree in government. As a first lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, Mr. Jacobus trained other young pilots to fly T33s — once used by the military to run drone missions — and he held onto that passion for flying, at one point in his retirement training to fly a Learjet.
“He was extremely courageous, in business, in family, in sailing,” said his wife, Catherine. “And he was a tremendous American citizen.”
He also fought illness, for many, many years.
Born with a chromosome abnormality, Mr. Jacobus was in his early 40s when he was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia, a bone marrow leukemia that he would battle for life.
Test treatments were common, as were hospital stays. But Mrs. Jacobus says her “beloved Jakey” was always brave and funny, never dwelling on illness and always pushing himself to enjoy life. To the world, he was healthy as a horse.
He was also a staunch Republican who several years ago persuaded the hospital nurses to remove his tubes and needles so his wife, a Democrat, could drive him to the polls to vote.
“He had needles all tucked up (in his clothes),” she says. “That was typical. He valued his country, hugely, and read all kinds of American history.”
After moving his family to the Delray Beach area in 1976, Mr. Jacobus started Connark Company, an investment and real estate development company located in Delray Beach. And he used his business success to give back to the community.
Among his favorite causes was the Achievement Centers for Children and Families of Delray, and the family asks that any memorials for him be made to that center.
Stephanie Seibel, the achievement center’s executive director, said Mr. Jacobus supported their work for 25 years, and called him “a dear friend” of the foundation. “Few have put their heart and soul into the work of the centers more than Jake,” she said. “He was truly one of a kind.”
In the end, it’s believed the treatments that kept Mr. Jacobus alive and healthy for so many years may have conspired to shut down his body. In the 11 months before he died, Mr. Jacobus lost weight and strength, but never his will, said his wife.
“We were all hugely blessed,” she said. “Sometimes in life, you just get lucky.”
In addition to his wife, Mr. Jacobus is survived by their six children and their families: Ann Jacobus Kordahl, of San Francisco; William R. Jacobus of Tallahassee; Sarah Lacy Jacobus of Dallas; Alexandra Cook of Boston; Todd H. Jacobus of Chevy Chase, Md.; and Christian H. Jacobus of Saginaw, Mich.
In addition, 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild survive him.
Mrs. Jacobus said well over 100 people attended her husband’s funeral and reception on Jan. 12. “My Jakey was well-loved,” she said.
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