Real

Buddy

basketball, so we played
kick the can all of the
Special to the Jewish News
time," mused Harold
Haas of West
hen Billy Jacobs' granddaughter
Bloomfield, his friend
realized some time ago that she
of
75 years, and who
would be late for a dinner appoint-
also
was his business
ment with him, she called the
partner
in many ven-
restaurant and asked the hostess to inform him.
tures. "He was always a
When she described Jacobs, the hostess replied:
man of his word and we Billy Jacobs
"Oh, you mean the man with the twinkle in his
never had an argument
eye."
about anything."
That twinkle went out forever Dec. 5 when
They attended
William Jacobs, 82, of Bloomfield Hills, died at
Detroit's
Northern
his daughter's home in Sylvan Lake after a seven-
High
School
together, then Mr. Jacobs went into
year struggle with Alzheimer's disease. On the
the
Army
and
saw action as a second lieutenant
day of his funeral, Dec. 7, the marquees at nine
in World War II. He won a Bronze Star medal
Buddy's Pizza Restaurants around the Detroit
when he saved the life of another soldier whose
area carried messages saying: "We'll miss you,
legs had been blown off by a land mine. Mr.
Billy," in honor of the man who bought the orig-
Jacobs was wounded by shrapnel. "He seldom
inal Buddy's and helped expand the business into
talked about his war experiences because he had a
the popular food chain.
great deal of humility," said his daughter.
His granddaughters, Miya and Britni Must,
Mr. Jacobs returned to take business courses
called him their "hero ... a virtuous person, hon-
for two years at Wayne University in Detroit
orable, generous and amazing," who always urged
before launching his highly successful real estate
them not be selfish and to "give the bigger piece
and investment career, which included owning
of their favorite pie to another person who might
motels, nursing homes and shopping centers,
need it more."
with
several different partners.
Mr. Jacobs' daughter and son, Monni Must
He
bought Buddy's Rendezvous Pizzeria at Six
and Robert Jacobs, described him as a father and
Mile
Road
and Conant Avenue in Detroit in
family man first, then a star athlete and success-
1969.
Besides
the pizza, the establishment was
ful businessman. "The disease really took effect
famous for its Italian bocci ball court in the
on him in the past two years," Must said, "and it
backyard. Mr. Jacobs was called "Buddy" by most
was a shame to see this man — who was a won-
customers, although there never really was an
derful athlete and health buff, who exercised reg-
owner named Buddy; the term referred to a place
ularly — waste away so badly. But he had a great
where
buddies gathered to eat and drink.
heart and maintained a strong spirit until the
His
son Robert joined the business in 1974,
end. He was a real pal and a mentor, who taught
and
the
operation began expanding. "He loved to
me how to be a parent."
visit
the
stores, and I would often take him with
In his eulogy, Rabbi Dannel Schwartz of
me to taste the food and talk to the various
Temple Shir Shalom recalled Mr. Jacobs defeat-
employees," said Robert. "He was so generous
ing him in a squash game, "but he was so hum-
that he also used to pick up the tabs of complete
ble about winning that he made me feel 10 feet
strangers. He traveled around with me as recently
tall," the rabbi said. "He was a gentle and sincere
as three weeks ago. But he was diminishing phys-
man, whose handshake was all that was necessary
-
ically and just couldn't do it anymore."
in a business deal. It's terrible that he was rav-
philanthropist
who
-
Mr.
Jacobs
was
a
"quiet
ished by this humiliating illness."
donated money to many charities. including 51
Born in New Jersey, Mr. Jacobs came from a
million to finance the entrance to the Jewish
poor family that moved to Michigan when he
was a youngster. "We couldn't afford a football or Community Center in West Bloomfield. He also

BILL CARROLL

IV

1 2 /1-i

2001

134

extensively supported the
local Special Olympics.
Mr. Jacobs excelled in
squash, tennis and table
tennis, winning medals and
awards at many competi-
tions. "He was terrific at
anything requiring eye-
hand coordination," his
daughter pointed out, "and
he always pushed himself as
an athlete to do better and
get stronger." He was the
co-founder of the Michigan
Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and remained active
in the organization for many years. "He never
was inducted into the Hall of Fame, but he cer-
tainly deserved it," said Rabbi Schwartz.
"My father was a real trendsetter," said his
daughter. "He wore casual attire before it was
fashionable. In the old days, he wore a suit only
once a month ... on a Friday when he went to
the bank. He took care of me as a child and I
was happy to return the favor in the last years of
his life ... and we were helped by some great
caregivers."
Rabbi Schwartz told the mourners, "The best
way to honor Billy is to celebrate his life. Go out
and love someone. Go spoil someone. Go touch
someone with a story about Billy. Hold your
family close and get along."
Mr. Jacobs is survived by his wife of 55 years,
Shirlee Jacobs of Boca Raton, Fla.; daughter and
son-in-law Monni and Joel Must of Bloomfield
Hills and Sylvan Lake; son Robert of
Birmingham; granddaughters Miya, Britni, Kacee
and Sabrina Must; brothers and sisters-in-law
Aaron and Irene Jacobs and Melvin and Myra
Jacobs; sister and brother-in-law Ruth and
George Winger, and brother-in-law Ralph
Friedman. He was the father of the late Debra Jo
Jacobs and the brother of the late Mildred
Friedman.
Interment at Clover Hill Park Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to the William
(Billy) Jacobs Fund for Alzheimer's Care at the
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.