Richard M. Jacobs

JACOBS, KOPEL, JAKUB, SPIRO, MARTIN, FEDERBUCH

Posted By: Tara (email)
Date: 6/11/2009 at 13:51:28

Richard M. Jacobs, 83, of 327 Ferson Ave., Professor of Orthodontics and former Associate Dean in the College of Dentistry died peacefully at his home Monday, July 28, 2008 of complications from Parkinson’s Disease.

Richard was born October 31, 1924 in Wloclawek, Poland, the son of Kuba Kopel Jakub and Irina Spiro. Richard escaped from the Warsaw ghetto, and as a teenager obtained false papers in order to survive. His parents perished in the German concentrations camps.

In 1949 he graduated from Maximilian University in Munich, Germany, and in 1952 received his D.D.S. degree from New York University. Dr. Jacobs received his MPH in public health from the University of California (1961), his PhD from the Medical College of Virginia (1964), and his MS in Orthodontics from the University of Illinois (1965).

In 1966 Dr. Jacobs became Professor in Orthodontics at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry. He had served as Assistant Dean, Associate Dean and as the Acting Head of the Department of Oral Biology. Prior to joining the UI College of Dentistry he had been an associate professor at the University of British Columbia, and from 1956-59 had a private practice in New York City.

He was a member of the American Dental Assn., American Public Health Assn. (Fellow),
International Assn. of Dental Research, American Assn. of Dental Schools, Teratology Society, and the World Assn. for Case Method Research. Dr. Jacobs was well known for his research, and had written numerous publications on his research studies.

Dr. Jacobs is survived by his wife, Kathleen; his son, Dr. Steven K. Jacobs of New Canaan, CT; three grandsons, Robert, Ryan and Andrew; his former spouse, Irene Martin. He was preceded in death by his parents and former spouse, Ruth Federbuch.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Lewy Body Disease Assn. c/o Dr. Jacob’s family.