He was born on January 26, 1925, the third child of Polish immigrants Sarah (nee. Bezosa) and Joseph Jacobson, brother to Sidney Jacobson and Claire Jacobson Skiba, in Shreveport, Louisiana.
George set off for college at age 16, attending Centenary College of Louisiana as a pre-medical student until 1943. He was honorably discharged from the US Army in 1945 and completed his academic learning at the LSU College of Medicine in 1946, graduating as the youngest in his class at age 21. Following his internship at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago, he set sail as the resident physician aboard the passenger ship the Del North which made runs from New Orleans to South America and the Caribbean islands. He returned to Louisiana for residency, and subsequently, psychiatry fellowship at Tulane University School of Medicine, finishing his training in 1953 and there working as an instructor in psychiatry.
An opportunity arose in 1956 at the University of Miami School of Medicine to bring Dr. Jacobson to Miami. There he served as an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry before continuing his long career in private practice located in downtown Miami. He remained in academia until the year 2000 as a Clinical Supervisor at the UM Department of Psychiatry. He maintained his medical license well into his nineties.
On December 31, 1960, George married Lela (nee Glassberg) Wells and immediately became father to four sons ages 3-11. They were married for 49 years and were long-time residents of the Miami Shores Community.
Dr. Jacobson was passionate for life-long learning. He held special interests in the epicurean arts, and became a gourmet chef and wine connoisseur, organized the Physician's Wine Appreciation Society of Miami, and was a member of the Chaines des Rotissers since 1965. His explorations continued with domestic and abroad travel, his favorite of which was the Galapagos Islands. He enjoyed dabbling in the stock market.
George has been a patron of the arts since childhood-- he was an original contributor of the New World Symphony and has held season tickets to the Miami City Ballet and to the Florida Grand Opera (since 1956). In his “retirement years” he found time to attend adult education classes at FIU and theater class locally, as well as volunteering with the United Way program where he read books to children ages 4-6 once weekly.
He is survived by his sons, Eric Wells and Paul Wells; his grandson Matthew Wells (Allison Hemmelgarn); his granddaughter Carlianne Wells Jorge (Ralph Jorge); four great-grandchildren, Cameron Lela Jorge, Scarlett Maria Jorge, Kai Lucas Wells, and Ezra Grey Wells; daughter-in-law Cynthia Wells, and his dog Fritz. His loving caregivers were Shauna Wilkinson and Leslie Ann Gordon.
George, known lovingly as Papa to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, was a true Renaissance man: a life-long learner, lover of the arts, honorary sommelier, daschund enthusiast, fighter for social justice and supporter of many charitable organizations, such as the Yiddish Book Center, Anti Defamation League, American Jewish Committee, and the Jewish Federation.
He is reunited with his adoring wife, Lela; sons Carl and Andrew Wells, and siblings Sidney and Claire, and approximately 10 dachshunds.
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