San Diego community activist and philanthropist Joan Jacobs dies at 91: Joan Jacobs, a philanthropist who transformed San Diego’s cultural, scientific, and educational landscapes, died late Monday at her beloved hospital. She was 91. Rep. Sara Jacobs, one of Jacobs’ numerous grandchildren, announced her death Tuesday. Heart failure killed her after being diagnosed with cardiac amyloidosis in December 2019. The congressman stated, “She pushed me and everyone around her to be our best, and I’m forever grateful.
“She showed me that I could be feminine and win an argument, a wife, mother, grandmother, and leader, and chart my own path in life while remembering and giving back to my community,” said Jacobs, D-San Diego. “I am her granddaughter.” Joan and Irwin Jacobs, 70-year San Diego residents, molded its culture. They moved west after Irwin left MIT to create UCSD. When Irwin Jacobs co-founded Qualcomm, the pair gave hundreds of millions to local NGOs and institutions.
UCSD, Symphony, Central Library, La Jolla Playhouse, MoCA San Diego, Salk Institute. “She saw everything,” said La Jolla Playhouse executive director Debby Buchholz. “Besides financial support, she was an active and important board member. Playhouse had a decent woman. Her honors include the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy, Cornell University’s Helen Bull Vandervort Alumni Achievement Award, and Americans for the Arts’ Philanthropy in the Arts Award.
Barnard School for Girls in Upper Manhattan accepted her, but her interests went beyond liberal arts and culture. She earned her BS from Cornell’s College of Human Ecology in 1954. Cornell senior year, she married Irwin Jacobs. Brigham and Women’s Hospital hired dietitian Jacobs from Groton Central School District in upstate New York. bHe became UC San Diego engineering department chair in 1966, therefore she and her husband relocated there. After buying land in 1968 and building a house, they lived in La Jolla for decades.
A decade after joining UCSD, Chancellor Pradeep Khosla discovered Joan Jacobs’ kindness. After moving into the chancellor’s Geisel House, she believed the napkins weren’t nice enough. “She ordered thousands of Geisel House napkins for the house. She cared much.” Khosla said the Jacobses valued life-changing power. UCSD chancellor: “Both Joan and Irwin shared a sense of responsibility to society that I have not seen in anybody.” Was selfless.”
UCSD Jacobs School of Engineering Dean Albert P. Pisano claimed Joan Jacobs substituted for her husband during his annual student lecture, including arts into fellows and researchers’ work. Joan informed me about inception.” “Initially, Irwin discussed technology with students. One year without Irwin, Joan held an art discussion that everyone liked.” Pisano said students are invited to yearly local performances. He stated Irwin and Joan would take the academics to the symphony, theater, or other spring cultural event.
SDSO Jacobs Music Center CEO Martha Gilmer. The Jacobses were so common that performances looked up to see them having fun. “Irwin and Joan have supported this orchestra probably more than any two people have supported a cultural institution in this country,” she remarked. They loved San Diego more. Jacobs revealed why she and her husband gave 75% to San Diego NGOs. “We love living here,” she remarked. Irwin, Gary, Hal, Paul, Jeff, and many great-grandchildren.
Jacobs Park Rady Shell will host a public memorial at 11 a.m. Monday. The family preferred donations to the San Diego Symphony, Jewish Family Service, San Diego Food Bank, La Jolla Playhouse, Museum of Contemporary Art, or Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center instead of flowers.