SAN DIEGO (KGTV) – A celebration of life event is being held Monday for the late Joan Jacobs, a woman known to many as a pillar in the San Diego community.
Jacobs died on May 6 from a rare heart condition at the age of 91.
The celebration will be at 11 a.m. at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, where Joan and her husband, Irwin Jacobs, have donated millions of dollars to the venue that hosts concerts for the San Diego Symphony and other acts.
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However, the list of other organizations the Jacobs have helped goes on.
The Jacobs are philanthropists in San Diego, helping start the Engineering Department at UC San Diego back in the 1960s.
They have also donated hundreds of millions of dollars across nearly 20 organizations.
According to Joan's biography in her program Monday, she contributed to the following institutions:
- La Jolla Playhouse
- The San Diego Symphony
- The Museum of Contemporary Art
- The San Diego Central Library
- The Salk Institute
- The San Diego Food Bank
- The Old Globe Theatre
- He Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center
- Jewish Family Service
- Second Chance
- Father Joe's Villages
- Planned Parenthood
- The ACLU
- J Street
- Cornell College of Human Ecology
- THe Jacob's Technion-Cornell Innovation Institute in New York City
- The Kishinev Jacobs Jewish Community Campus in Moldova
Also, their granddaughter is Rep. Sara Jacobs.
Joan Jacobs’ generosity continues as she and her family have asked everyone attending Monday to make donations, instead of bringing flowers.
According to Jacob's obituary by the San Diego Union-Tribune, the donations will be going towards: the San Diego Symphony, Jewish Family Service, the San Diego Food Bank, La Jolla Playhouse, Museum of Contemporary Art or the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center.
"She was an exceptional person, and she was gracious," Marie Raftery, a friend of Joan's said. "She was refined. She was kind she had sons and I had sons. We used to talk about raising sons and the challenge that brought. She was devoted to her family, but devoted to the community."
Dr. Bob Rubenstein, also a friend of Joan's said, "We knew her for 50 years and she was a strong person. She survived a lot of problems and made the effort to be available to the community under very serious circumstances for herself."
The family is inviting guests to leave their favorite story, memories, or words of celebration in their virtual guest book.
To access the guest book, click here: Joan Jacobs's Kudoboard | Kudoboard
