PETER JACOBSON
1933-2021
Peter Jacobson, 88, passed away on October 23, 2021, from complications of prostate cancer. He is survived by his wife, Eugenia George, his children, Reid Jacobson (Jennifer), Elena Jacobson Ashen (David), grandchildren Kenna, Evynn, and Jesse Ashen, and Talia Jacobson, his sister Elizabeth Levine, her children, Lisa Salzman (Larry Trachtman), Janet Nahirny (James), and Billy Levine (Julie), many grandnieces and grandnephews, brother-in-law Richard George (Monica), and their children, Alan and Matthew George, and countless friends.
Peter was born in Chicago on August 28, 1933, to Niels and Fanny Cahn Jacobson. He attended Georgia Institute of Technology. Upon graduation from Georgia Tech, he served as Executive Officer on the USS Nespelen in Antarctica, building camps at the South pole, McMurdo Sound, and Little America V. In Antarctica he developed his life-long passion for penguins.
After the navy he lucked into a job as Project Engineer for Lenox Square in Atlanta, where he learned how to build shopping centers. In 1966 he was recruited to build Plaza Las Americas in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He then completed many building projects all over the island. Also in
San Juan he was one of the prime movers establishing the Reform Temple Beth Shalom, where he served as president (1971-1973).
In 1975 he moved to Houston to renovate the Sharpstown Shopping Center. Subsequently, he built shopping centers throughout the US. His last major project was Katy Mills Mall.
When not building, he entertained himself as a private pilot, a flying instructor, a sailor throughout the Caribbean, and an amateur race car driver on many tracks throughout the US. He loved his many motorcycle trips.
Peter volunteered with the Civil Air Patrol. In later years Peter’s favorite activity was flying radio-controlled aircraft at the Fort Bend RC Club. When the club relocated in 2010 to its present site, he was instrumental in helping to design and build the field. He was a primary instructor and past president.
He implemented a training program that taught many aspiring pilots how to enjoy flying RC aircraft.
A Memorial Service will be held at 2pm on Saturday, November 13, 2021, at SettegastKopf / Dignity Memorial, 15015 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land, Texas 77478.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to your favorite charity. Peter had ongoing interests in penguins and in events in Puerto Rico. Suggestions to honor these interests include:
Oceanites.org, 3292 Arcadia Place NW., Washington, DC 20015 USA 202-237-6262. Oceanites does research to conserve Antarctica with specific focus on penguins.
Boys and Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico, PO Box 79526, Carolina, PR 00984-9526, US. This organization assists Puerto Rican children to acquire skills to escape poverty.
Temple Beth Shalom Disaster Response/Social Action Fund, 101 San Jorge Street, San Juan, PR 00911. Peter helped establish this Temple.