Alan Norman Jacobs, M.D.

Alan Norman Jacobs, M.D., was born on May 12, 1941, the oldest of the four sons born to Sadie Helen Frumin Jacobs and Dr. Sydney Jacobs. Alan graduated from Isadore Newman School and attended the University of Pennsylvania prior to entering Louisiana State University School of Medicine, graduating in June, 1965. While in medical school, Alan met his soul-mate, Linda Weil. Alan and Linda were married soon after Linda graduated from Newcomb College, now part of Tulane University, in 1963.

Shortly prior to Alan’s graduation from medical school, their first child, Jeffrey David Jacobs, was born on May 12, 1965, Alan’s 24th birthday. Alan often said that there was no greater present Linda could have given him. Alan and Linda took great pride in what they regarded as their own version of “family planning.”

Alan spent his internship year at Touro Infirmary. Then, from 1966 to 1968, he spent two years in the United States Public Health Service as the State Health Officer for Tuberculosis for New Jersey, living in West Caldwell. During his early years of medical education, Alan had assumed that he would follow his father’s path into Internal Medicine, but his experience in the Public Health Service led him instead into a career in Radiology. In 1968, Linda, Jeff and Alan moved to Philadelphia for a residency program at Albert Einstein Medical Center, where their second son, William Scott Jacobs, now known as Chaim, was born in 1968, and their daughter, Elizabeth Ann Jacobs, now known as Lisa Palmisano, was born in 1970. After completing his residency training in June, 1971, Dr. Jacobs and his now complete young family moved back to New Orleans.

Dr. Jacobs spent over forty years in medical practice after residency, mostly in private practice, and primarily at St. Charles General Hospital. The last seven years were the most satisfying of his career, teaching medical students and residents. Alan was particularly proud of the fact that in each of those years he received the award as Best Teacher in the Radiology Department from the medical students. Alan retired on December 31, 2012.

Alan was admired for his quick wit, his sense of humor and his story-telling ability. When he was about fifty year old, he enrolled in a class in stand-up comedy at the University of New Orleans. The final exam for the class of fifteen students consisted of a performance at a night club in Metairie, with each student delivering a stand-up monologue skit of about seven minutes, based on his or her own life. Alan’s performance won the top prize, the Rubber Chicken Award.

Throughout his life, Dr. Jacobs was highly regarded for his administrative skills. He always believed that if you derived a benefit from an organization you should try to give back to that organization. Alan served on several boards, both secular and religious. He was president of his high school fraternity and his college fraternity. While his children were attending Newman School, Alan was president of the Newman Dads’ Club. He was president of his synagogue and of his medical practice group. In his later years, Alan was president of his condominium association. And, he was president of the association managing the cemetery in which he is to be buried.

Alan was predeceased by his parents, Sadie and Dr. Sydney Jacobs. He is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Linda Weil Jacobs, who added immeasurably to his happiness throughout their marriage, and by his children, grandchildren and great-grandchild, all of whom brought Alan great joy and pride: their older son, Jeffrey David Jacobs (partner Gail Sargent) of Houston, their younger son, Chaim Jacobs, of Philadelphia, and their daughter, Lisa Palmisano, of Metairie. He is also survived by his four grandsons, Shmuel Gershon Jacobs of New Jersey, Weston Wellsley Walker II of Florida, Menachem Mendel Jacobs of Philadelphia, and Moshe Alexander Jacobs, also of Philadelphia, and by Ezra Yosef of New Jersey, his first great-grandchild. Alan is also survived by his three brothers, Jerome M. Jacobs of Metairie, Dr. Myron H. Jacobs (Randee) of St. Louis, and Joel F. Jacobs (Debra) of Jackson, Mississippi, and by his many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He will be greatly missed by his family and his many friends.

Funeral services will be at Shir Chadash Conservative, 3737 West Esplanade Avenue, Metairie, LA 70002 on Sunday, February 27, 2022 at 11:30am with a visitation beginning at 11:00am. Burial will be at Chevra Thilim Memorial Park, 5000 Iberville Street, immediately afterward. (Take City Park Avenue to Bienville Street, turn right for one block to Helena Street, turn right onto Helena Street for one block to Iberville Street and cemetery). Shiva location and times will be announced at the cemetery or can be learned by calling Congregation Shir Chadash, 504-889-1144. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you please consider a contribution to Congregation Shir Chadash, 3737 West Esplanade Avenue, Metairie, LA 70002, or to Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans, 3747 West Esplanade Avenue, Metairie, LA 70002, or to American Cancer Society, 2605 River Road, New Orleans, LA 70121.