NORTHEAST HARBOR – Mr. Denholm M. Jacobs, of Northeast Harbor, died at his home Saturday eve-ning, May 15, 2004. He was surrounded by loved ones at the time of his death. Mr. Jacobs lived a life of many interests, the greatest of which was his love of people, especially his family. He had a broad, infectious smile, a hearty sense of humor and a robust zest for life. He was fascinated by human and world events and believed passionately in community involvement. Mr. Jacobs was born Dec. 31, 1922, in Haverford, Pa., the son of Reginald Robert and Sophia Yarnall Jacobs. He married Margaret Bottomley of Boston, Mass., in November of 1944. In May of 1973, he married Margaret W. Sanne, his wife at the time of his death. Mr. Jacobs love for Northeast Harbor began with summer visits as a child. He shared his youth with his parents and sister, Charlton, in Haverford, and he developed an especially close and loving relationship with his maternal grandfather, Charlton Yarnall. After an adult life spent principally in Boston, Mass., Mr. Jacobs returned to live in Northeast Harbor in 1985. Beginning in 1992, Mr. Jacobs and his wife, Peggy, lived significant parts of each year in Provence, France. Mr. Jacobs attended grade school at The Haverford School, Haverford, Pa., and then began seventh grade at the Brooks School, North Andover, Mass. Upon graduation from Brooks, Mr. Jacobs attended Yale University, New Haven, Conn. He left in the middle of his freshman year to join the Army during World War II. He earned the rank of Captain in the Army. After the Army, he returned home to earn his bachelor’s degree at Haverford College, Haverford, Pa. He then attended the Harvard Business School, Cambridge, Mass. After Harvard, Mr. Jacobs and his wife, Peg, settled in the Boston area and began their family. They had four children, Mary, Robert, Denholm and Margaret. Throughout this time, Mr. Jacobs worked primarily in the financial industry in several capacities. His proudest accomplishment in this period was no doubt his partnership with Dr. Charles Schepens in founding the Retina Foundation, a leading eye institute in Boston, Mass. Shortly after returning to live in Northeast Harbor in 1985, Mr. Jacobs began his directorship of Thuya Gardens, a second professional accomplishment and personal involvement in which he took great pride. Throughout his life, Mr. Jacobs loved gardening and flowers, in particular, and he had considered talents as a landscape architect. In 2002, he spearheaded the formation of the Island Foundation, an organization to coordinate and oversee the continued growth and operation of a garden network, which includes his beloved Thuya Gardens. Mr. Jacobs is survived by his wife, Margaret of Northeast Harbor; and his children, Mary M. Ashur of Northeast Harbor, Robert B. Jacobs of New York, N.Y., Denholm M. Jacobs Jr. of Medfield, Mass., Margaret Y. Coan of Potomac, Md., Margaret S. Leger of Montreal, Canada, and Eric J. Sanne of Bethesda, Md.; his sister, Charlton Phelps and her husband, Stowe Phelps, of New York, N.Y.; their children, Meredith Rugg of New York, N.Y., and Sophia Payne of Dallas, Texas; and his grandchildren, Jason Ashur, Lauren Jacobs, Charles Jacobs, Robert Jacobs, Michael Coan, Patrick Coan, Ryan Coan, Sophie Jacobs, Maximillian Leger, Sebastien Leger, Sarah Sanne and Margot Sanne. A celebration of Mr. Jacobs life for family and close friends will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, May 22, 2004, at St. Mary’s-By-The-Sea, South Shore Road, Northeast Harbor, with a reception to follow at the Winter Chapel parish hall. Also, a memorial service is being planned for July and will be announced. Arrangements in care of Jordan-Fernald Funeral Home, 1139 Main St., Mount Desert. <
DENHOLM M. JACOBS SR.
