Deacon Joe Jacobs

Deacon Joseph Weller Jacobs, venerated husband, father, and grandfather, passed away at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital at the age of 78 on April 18th 2023. He passed peacefully with his wife, Cindy, at his side after evening prayers. Joe was born December 27, 1944, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Lehigh University where he studied engineering, and then from Yale Law School. He spent his early career in New York City and then moved to Tallahassee to teach law at Florida State University, where he taught as a Distinguished Professor for 25 years. After retiring from teaching in 1999, he embarked on a second career, becoming CEO of Gulf Atlantic Insurance Company. In 2011, he was ordained as a Deacon in the Catholic Church and lovingly served at his parish, St. Louis, until his final homily on Palm Sunday of this year. Joe was an active, grateful, and sober member of his recovery community for the past 22 years. In his retirement, Joe enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, and doing daily prayers and traveling the world with Cindy. He loved football, always rooting for his favorite teams the Pittsburgh Steelers and Florida State Seminoles. Joe is survived by his beloved wife of 38 years, Cindy Jacobs. He is also survived by his five cherished children – Christopher Weller Jacobs of Daytona Beach, Florida, Margot Rose Jacobs of Los Angeles, California, Molly Weller Jacobs (Matt Newell) of Portland, Oregon, Anna Weller Maguire (Kevin) of Seattle, Washington, and Susan Weller Jacobs (Kris Creel) of Tallahassee, Florida; and his grandchildren Alexandria Nicole Maguire and Desmond Rose Maguire. He is also survived by his sisters Cathy Davis and Barbara Jacobs-Smith (Alan), nieces Annaliese Rooney and Norah Jacobs-Smith, nephew Jake Jacobs-Smith, aunts Martha Eakin and Mary Ellen Magyar, cousins Natalie Tyler (David Riede), Carol Tyler, Cynthia Tyler, and Elizabeth Tyler (Rob Olshansky). Joe was preceded in death by his father, Joseph Bernard Weller, his mother, Marjorie Cox Jacobs, and his aunt Natalie Tyler. In addition to his immediate family, there are many extended family, former students, colleagues, and parishioners who will miss his dedicated presence. Visitation followed by evening prayer will be held from 5-7pm on Friday, April 28 and Funeral Mass will be Saturday, April 29 at 10am, both at St. Louis Catholic Church. A reception will follow the Mass at St. Louis Parish Hall. Joe will be interred at Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, Georgia. Please send flowers to Abbey Funeral Home, or if you wish, donations can be made to St. Louis Catholic Church. Joe was brilliant, hilarious, wise, giving, and powerful. He was a huge presence in the lives of all he met and a dynamic force in the world. His passing has left a void in all those who loved him that will never be filled.

Deacon Joe Jacobs

December 27, 1944 - April 18, 2023