It was with great sadness that I heard about Jeff’s passing. He was my faculty advisor for my first year practicum – and a truly great mentor and inspiration. Although he passed through my life briefly, he touched it greatly. He showed me the value of compassion and authentic relationships in the classroom – by example and through kind and caring classroom lessons. As you know, he was amazing! My sincere sympathies go to you and your family at this time of los.

My deepest sympathies!

Anna unit 47 FMC

Dear Lynne and Stephanie and all other family members:

What an incredible legacy has been left behind for your family–what an incredible father and mentor for many of giving and loving. I will never forget how your husband/father loved the primary children and helped us preserve those memories as he conscientiously recorded, on video many special events! For this, my children and I are very grateful! Wishing you peace and comfort at this time of sorrow..but also reconfirmation of truth–that he is in a better place now, free of discomfort and very close to you all in a different way. Love, Astrid & Children

Dear Lynne and family,

I only worked with Jeff a short while in the Faculty of Education last year, but found him to be a man of high integrity and great compassion, wrapped up in a wonderful sense of humour and zest for life.

In addition to a loving family, he leaves behind a legacy of inspired students, and a world so much the better because he served in it.

May that bring you solace in this time of sorrow. May God bless and comfort you.

Maureen Armitage

Lynne and Family,

Jeff was a valued colleague at the U. of C., and I was very sorry to hear of his passing. My thoughts are with you.

Tamara Seiler

I join others in mourning the loss of Jeff, and in celebrating his many fine contributions to the university as well as to the broader community. He was a ‘mensch’, unafraid to demonstrate his commitment to the well-being of students and faculty in many ways, and had a capacity to dispel tense situations with a timely and usually humorous story or aphorism.

My deepest sympathy to his family.

Aldred Neufeldt

Dear Mrs. Jacob and family,

My deepest sympathy on the loss of your husband, father and grandfather. As both an undergraduate and, later, graduate student, I took every class Dr. Jacob offered. Eventually, he served as my advisor as I completed my Master’s Degree with a thesis on Spirituality in Leadership, a topic largely influenced by his work. When my own husband was fighting his battle with cancer, Dr. Jacob always had a kind word to share. When I became a widow, his was one of the first condolence messages to arrive. Our earthly world has lost a true gem, but Heaven will surely shine brighter because of his presence. My family sends our prayers to yours.

Deborah Woods

I was lucky enough to have Dr. Jacob as a professor in my Masters program. I’ll never forget our first class together when he came in, untied his shoes and put his feet up and shared his first of many funny stories. His example and guidance effected some very positive changes in my life and in my work as a teacher. I often speak to friends about the effect of his responsiveness assignment. We were to be totally responsive to those around us and record the effect. I anticipated that I would feel used and taken advantage of but surprisingly I was deeply happy. I continue to live this lesson every day. I am grateful for Dr. Jacob and I am saddened his life on earth was so short but so well lived.

Sincerely,

Linda Foo

My thoughts, and prayers, are with you Lynne, and with your family. God bless you all. … love, Tiina

Jeff was a valued colleague, kind and moral but I didn’t know we shared a birth date until his death. A good man is gone from this Earth, however, I’ll think of you especially on October 29, Jeff.

We will hold his memory in our hearts and miss him in our lives.

Dear Friends,

I was deeply saddened to learn that Jeff has passed from this life. He was my colleague in the Faculty of Education at U of C from 1976 until 2006 when I ‘retired’ to take a position at Washington State University. Unfortunately I was unaware of Jeff’s illness until now or I would have written sooner. I valued Jeff as colleague and friend and am deeply grateful to have had the privilege of working with him for all those years. He contributed so much to our teacher preparation program and to the broader Faculty of Education at U of C – his support and creativity, his knack for putting ideas into action, his calming influence and balanced approach in the face of conflicted situations, his warmth and integrity. Jeff made a difference. We will miss him.

How sweetly tied together all our lives are. How difficult it is when someone slips the bonds. I will be holding you in my thoughts and prayers in the days to come.

With deepest sympathy,

Suzanne Kurtz

I was very saddened to hear of Jeff’s passing. He was a much admired colleague at the University and when things were difficult it was Jeff who brought people together. His faith was demonstrated in his every action and in all his relationships. He will be sorely missed. My prayers are with Lynne and his family.

Bob