David Jacobs, 73, of Bristol, RI and Charlestown, MA passed away peacefully at home on May 12, 2025 after an 8-year battle with cancer.
Born in Brooklyn, NY, David was the son of the late Bernard Jacobs and the late Selma [Monoson] Jacobs. He grew up in Bayshore then East Islip on Long Island before leaving for Northeastern University at age 17, becoming a lifelong enthusiast of the Boston area.
He graduated from NU with an engineering degree and an MBA from Bentley University and spent his career working in the technology and medical device fields where he did everything from running R&D to Quality to Operations Management, Consulting and later Business Development and Coaching.
While he enjoyed his career, family, friends and sailing were David’s passions. After college he serendipitously became an early member of the Old Gold Rugby Club where he received several concussions and bruises but made lifelong friends. Around that time, he was also took up sailing. Racing his C&C and Quest 33 sailboats became his undying passion. He is ever grateful to his crew and the many friends he met boating.
He met his wife, Laura, skiing in Killington; they were married in 1984. His peaceful life changed forever when they welcomed their children Michael Elizabeth Jacobs and Samuel Donlon Jacobs in 1993. He became their best coaches for soccer and basketball and their biggest fan at everything else. David loved family and was happiest in a crowd of loved ones despite his faux curmudgeonly persona. He also enjoyed his dogs, his books and his quiet time managing to balance it with their often-exuberant family.
In addition to Laura, Michael and Sam, David leaves his brother Howard and his wife Leslie, Laura’s family & their spouses, numerous nieces and nephews and his dog Fozzie, all of which he loved tremendously.
A funeral service will be held on Wednesday May 14, 2025 at 11:00 am at the Hoffman Jewish Memorial Chapel, 11 Fowler Avenue, Newport, RI. Burial will follow at Beth Olam Cemetery, 181 Wyatt Road, Middletown, RI.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial donations in David’s name be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Gastroenterology, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 or via dana-farber.org/gift
Arrangements are by the Chevra Kadisha Association of Newport County.
