Doris Jacobow

Mrs. Doris Jacobow, age 95, of West Palm Beach, Florida passed away October 12, 2018 in Jupiter, Florida. Mrs. Jacobow was a U.S. Coast Guard Veteran. She was predeceased by her husband, Harvey Jacobow. She will be lovingly remembered by her family, including her daughters, Rebekah Bearden (Hal), of Palm Beach Gardens, Robyn McClaflin (Michael), of Greensboro, North Carolina, grandson, Richard Papier, of New Orleans, Louisiana.

Doris Jacobow wore many hats in her lifetime. She was a WWII Coast Guard Veteran, a wife, a mother, and grandmother. She was an artist, an author, a designer and civil rights activist.

She was a volunteer with the elections board. In the 1960’s she worked with Dolls For Democracy, a program aimed at eliminating prejudice.  Her programs to elementary students highlighted the accomplishments of outstanding black figures like George Washington Carver, Leontyne Price, Mahalia Jackson, Jackie Robinson and Martin Luther King using dolls in their likeness.

Born in Omaha, Nebraska she lived most of her life in the South; Dallas, Birmingham and her beloved Charlotte, North Carolina. She moved to Florida after her husband of 57 years passed away. Florida was no stranger as she had been billeted in the Biltmore Hotel in Palm Beach for part of her Coast Guard tour, and spent time in the Breakers recovering from pneumonia. It had been converted to a military hospital during the war.

Doris loved the arts including opera, classical music, ballet and theater.  She enjoyed attending concerts at the Kravis Center or exhibitions at the Norton Gallery where she was a member. She loved to be on the go and referred to the Palm Tran Handicapped Transport  she took as “The Party Bus”

Food was a passion! She especially loved cheese, olives, avocados and steak. She was never one to turn down a good milkshake or piece of dark chocolate or licorice!

Bread was truly the staff of life for her if it was crusty and buttery or covered in Brie.

Her sense of humor was incredible although she never thought of herself as funny. She had friends and family in stitches all the time.

Hats, hair bows and pretty clothes as well as her makeup and perfume were part of her daily routine. She was the consummate lady and always looked the part.

Her 2 favorite quotes were;
“Youth Knows No Age” by Picasso
                  and
“People Will Stare, Give Them Something To Look At ”  by Harry Winston

She enjoyed reading. Her favorite books were the complete set of Proust’s Remembrance of Things Past.  She was likely the only person who could ever get through them with their painfully descriptive prose!

Violets were her favorite flower and she had a room furnished like a garden filled with them. From plants to linens and furniture. Needlepoint was a hobby prior to her stroke and she was working, with help, on a new violet pillow which her daughter will complete for her.

Animals were close to her heart and she adopted 3 feral cats at Morse Health Care whom she named Domino, Brownie and Grayson. She was pushed in her wheelchair daily to fill their bowls with food and water.  She had to give up her Maltese after her stroke but she found a way to fill the void and help some of God’s furry creatures have a better life.

Her homemade bread she referred to as Little Red Hen Bread was out of this world as was her Baked Alaska, Chocolate Cake , Fruit Cake drunk on Brandy and Madeline’s.

Doris wasn’t  much of a drinker but enjoyed a glass of Harvey’s  Bristol Cream Sherry or a flute of Korbel Brut Champagne on special occasions. Her formal high tea parties were famous in Charlotte . The Food Editor of the Charlotte Observer  heard of them and invited herself to one. Doris ended up with a full page spread in the newspaper and  everyone was calling for an invitation.

She won an Architectural Digest  Magazine home decorating contest which was judged by the likes of Tish Baldridge  and Princess Lee Radziwill.

DeBeers Diamond Corp. awarded her first prize heir annual Christmas design campaign and sent her and her husband to Hawaii for 2 weeks.

Ladies Home Journal Magazine printed a Valentine she wrote to them describing how they had influenced her life. They flew her to New York where she dined with Charleton Heston , was treated to a make over at Elizibeth Ardens, Broadway shows and meals at all the fabulous famous restaurants in town.

She had several paintings hang is various galleries around the country. Her last work was a group of Structures which are classified  Assemblage Art. The last book she wrote was not yet published but is registered in the Library of Congress along with her Structures.

Of all the wondrous accomplishments and talents she had, the greatest was the gift of her kind heart. She always tried her best to enrich the lives of those she touched . Encouragement and support along with good council and kindness endeared her to those who knew and loved her. Her concern and compassion for others was boundless. No one who had the good fortune to meet her, could forget her ….even if she wasn’t wearing her trademark hair bow! When asked how to pronounce her last name she would reply, “Jacob with a bow on the end”

The world was truly blessed to have her in it for 95 years and 196 days, and will never be the same without her! A woman of valor in every way.

A memorial service  will be held at Morse Geriatric Center, 4847 David Mack Drive, West Palm Beach on Tuesday, November 20, 2018 at 3:30 PM with Rabbi Alan Sherman officiating.

 She will have a US Coast Guard burial at sea from a Coast Guard Cutter to honor her service to our nation.

 Should you wish to make a charitable donation in Doris’ memory, in lieu of flowers the family requests you choose whichever one is dear to your heart or one of the following;

Adopt A Cat Rescue Shelter
1125 Old Dixie Highway
Lake Park, Fl 33403
Adoptacat.org
561-848-4911

Plant a tree in Israel
Plant JNF trees in Israel                                          Jnf.org
800.542.8733 

ASPCA
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
ASPCA.ORG
1 (212) 876-7700

Morse Life Health Systems
4847 David Mack Drive
West Palm Beach,FL 33417
Morselife.org
561) 471-5111

Arbor Day Foundation Give A Tree
Plant trees in our national forest to replace those lost in wild fires
Arborday.org/giveatree
1-888-448-7337