Michael Harris Jacobs died Thursday (April 27, 2017). In typical Mike Jacobs fashion, he died in a larger than life way, in Mexico right after a lunch laughing with his wife and friends. Writing a standard obituary wouldn’t honor this loved man because he was anything but ordinary. There is no template that would properly do his legacy justice. Mike Jacobs raised his daughters on the motto “learn to dance in the rain.” He carried that through his life. From growing up on Chatham street in Hartford with his late parents Gloria and Abe. To his days studying sociology at American International College. To his 22 years with RBC (39 years in the industry). To his most recent career as a stand up comedian where he performed all over the country. Everyone who encountered Mike Jacobs even for a minute, walked away in a better mood. To those who know him you are smiling right now because you know that exact feeling. Hold on to it. Carry it with you.
Honestly, it’s hard to go into his vast and impressive resume, because that was never what it was about with Mike. He just wanted to make people laugh. And he did just that. His passion for stand up comedy didn’t happen until later in his beautiful life, but his desire to make people laugh was something he was born with. He wrote in his mother’s obituary, “laughter is the shortest distance between two people.” That is how the family encourages everyone to remember him. Always with quotes. Always leaving you with a smile. Always making you laugh.
Mike Jacobs the Comedian had another side to him. He was also extremely compassionate, sensitive, and wore his heart on his sleeve. If you were in pain, he felt every ounce of that with you. On your dark days he would be by your side until you learned to dance in the rain. He lived a full beautiful life and will be sorely missed.
Mike Jacobs leaves behind his devoted wife of 12 years Candace “Candy” Jacobs of Mystic; his daughter Jillian Jacobs, daughter and son-in-law Alyson and Matthew Leydig, daughter and son- in law Abigail and Christopher Hoffman, daughter Margaret O’Brien, grand-children Samuel Leydig, and Tristan and Talon Hoffman; Mother-in-law Patricia Copp, sister and brother-in-law Elisse and Bob Foley, and nephew and niece Donald and Betsy Cosenza. In addition, Mike leaves many other cherished cousins, his Masons Island family who he adored, his RBC family, fellow comics from the New York Friars Club, and friends, many of whom he spoke with daily.
Funeral services will be Tuesday, May 2nd at 3:30 in the afternoon in the chapel in the Weinstein Mortuary 640 Farmington Avenue Hartford with burial in Fairview Cemetery, West Hartford. Arrangements are entrusted to Weinstein Mortuary, Hartford CT. For further information, directions, or to sign the guest book for Michael Jacobs, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com/funerals.cfm
