38 | JULY 9 • 2020 

A Community Leader
J

ohn E. Jacobs, 73, of 
Huntington Woods, 
died July 1, 2020. 
Throughout his life, 
John Jacobs made it his 
mission to fight for those 
who could not fight for 
themselves. 
A native Detroiter, John 
attended Mumford High 
School, graduated from 
Michigan State University 
and earned his juris doctor 
from the University of Michigan Law 
School. 
Along the way, he met and married 
Gilda; together they raised two beauti-
ful daughters, Jessica and Rachel.
John grew up at Temple Beth El, but 
his family did not take an active role 

in the Jewish community. 
As an adult, he realized that 
he missed having a Jewish 
education. He and Gilda 
made the decision to create 
a strong Jewish environ-
ment for their daughters and 
joined Temple Emanu-El. 
John ultimately assumed the 
presidency of the congrega-
tion.
He also served on the 
boards of the Jewish 
Community Center, Jewish Vocational 
Services and Tamarack Camps and is a 
past president of Jewish Family Service 
and the Michigan Regional Advisory 
Board of the Anti-Defamation League. 
Additionally, he was chair of the 
Jewish Eld 
ercare Services Committee 

(COJES), the Federation Community 
Services Division and the Government 
Relations Oversight Committee 
(GROC). 
John had been particularly drawn 
to serve in places where he felt he 
could make a difference. In the case 
of COJES, he recognized the needs 
of our Jewish elderly and sought to 
coordinate services for them. At JFS, 
he felt compelled to help those who 
were financially challenged or who 
suffered from domestic abuse, helping 
to make the Windows Program a real-
ity. At ADL, he helped fight for those 
who did not have a voice, who would 
otherwise have been forced to work on 
Jewish holidays. 
In his role with GROC, he lobbied 
legislators for financial support for the 

John Jacobs

Soul
of blessed memory

continued on page 40

