I think of Bill every nite…as well as John…which means I think of all of you…

The Zinders toy store on Nassau Street in Princeton.  The “Zinders Lady” was an exceedingly mean-spirited woman who was utterly unpleasant with everyone, and didn’t even like children!  She had no business in a job dealing with the public, let alone kids.  We’d watched her handle people hideously for many years, including ourselves.  One Summer weekday, Bill says, ‘let’s mess with her.’  I’m in, of course.  He buys a junky plastic gun elsewhere.  It shoots little plastic darts with suction cups.  The kind that never works.  We start marching in to Zinders.  I’m like, ‘uh, Bill, what are we doing?’  He had that ‘Bill look’ in his eyes, already visualizing his nefarious plot.  There are no customers at the check-out counter, just the unhappy Zinders Lady.  She sees us and, immediately, a disapproving scowl takes over her face.  We are 12 years old.  Maybe 11.  Bill pulls up his considerable frame and assumes a wide, shooters stance pointing the freaking toy gun at her.  He proclaims, ‘this is it’...and before he can continue with whatever insanity was to follow out of his lips, the gun fires, completely by mistake.  Only Bill.  The thing actually zings the plastic dart about 5 inches by her head and sticks to the wall with a thump.  She turns to the dart and back to us in utter disbelief, fury, and contempt.  As she starts to yell, Bill and I fly out of the store and down Nassau Street for at least 10 to 15 blocks, howling with the combo of fear and hysterical laughter, as her incensed screaming rang in our ears.  This is simply what I oh so lovingly call, ‘hanging out with Bill.’  Daily occurrences.  He devoured every single thing of every day with a joyous delight, an unending thirst, and an intensity that was just so wonderful.  I’m so very sad that Bill’s physical health took over, and dominated his very core to such a degree, that his amazing joie du vivre was so greatly diminished and compromised.  All my love to my beloved Jacobus family.

We will all miss Bill's energy, smile and his ceaseless love of family and loyalty to friends.  Sleep well, Dear Bill.   No more stress or pain.  

Because you will forever be in our hearts, a tree will be planted in the schools garden by Camille's tree  in your memory  as we acknowledge your love of nature and children.

The staff and children of Academy Schools.

Evergreen Washelli Funeral Home & Cemetery

William Jacobus

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William Penman Jacobus

13 July, 1961 – 3 December, 2019

Evergreen Washelli Funeral Home & Cemetery

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