College...Family...Sports...Osteopathy....Students

Remembering Allen W. Jacobs

		Al had a number of passions in his life, and his family would be at the top of that list. He had a passion for his college, for his profession, for his staff, for his students, and for Michigan State University.--Kristine Jacobs I learned a lot from Dean Jacobs over the past four years. He taught me the importance of being passionate about life, he taught me the art of caring for people and making them always feel welcome, and he taught me the uniqueness of osteopathic medicine and the added benefit that DOs provide to their patients. Most importantly, he always believed in me and continually told me that I could do anything. I treasured the confidence he placed in me and know that it was because of his faith in me that I was able to present my tribute to him in a calm and composed manner. I can think of no one else I would have done this for, will be forever grateful for the opportunity to have worked with him, and will miss him so very, very much. -- Colleen Kniffen, Assistant to the Dean and Director, Clinical Faculty System Al Jacobs embodied what I think every physician should be. He absolutely enjoyed his life, he felt blessed to have the family that he had, the job that he had, and to be able to help people any way he could. He had his priorities in the right place. His family came first, his patients came second, and everything else was third. -- Jeff Kovan, DO, MSU Director of Sports Medicine

Al and I joined the faculty at Michigan State University as assistant professors of anatomy over 30 years ago. Al was exceptionally devoted to his teaching. His dedication to his college and to MSU was unparalleled. I will miss him greatly! -- Clifford W. Welsch, Professor Emeritus Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology Dr. Jacobs was a special friend to athletes at East Lansing High School - always there with open arms to assist student athletes, parents and coaches whenever needed. -- Andy Wells Athletic Director, East Lansing High School I remember the day he called me at MSU Sports Medicine to personally tell me I had been accepted into MSUCOM, and I remember the day he welcomed me into the COM family by putting a white coat on my back. -- Sarah Strong, MSUCOM 2002, Former MSU Athletic Trainer

Allen Jacobs was a man who knew his passions and indulged them to the end. That he had so many and could fully embrace them all set him apart from everyone else. He was a champion for sports medicine and an ambassador for osteopathy. He loved his family dearly. He followed the Chicago Cubs with all the vigor and wide-eyed enthusiasm as he did when growing up in Illinois. I feel that the greatest accomplishment I will ever achieve in life was being his friend. --Steven Karageanes, DO The thing that I remember most about Al was his great compassion and love for his family, the college, the profession, MSU, the discipline of anatomy and sports. He introduced me to osteopathic medicine and I will be forever grateful. He was always a role model for me, and from him I learned to love and advocate for our students.--William Falls, PhD, Associate Dean of Student Services

Almost 30 years ago, in the lonely warrens of the connector wing of Fee Hall, my office was next door to the one occupied by a young Ph.D. anatomist, Al Jacobs. Al had been with MSU only three or four years, and he already had a reputation as a hotshot - a perpetual motion machine in a Muppets '70s haircut and glasses - who cared about students, excellence, hard work and playing it straight. He'd tease me about our common downstate Illinois heritage, and often giggles would signal the presence of Kris and their kids joyfully heading to visit his office. I also found myself a student in Al's Anatomy 316 class, and there is no doubt he was best instructor I ever encountered - organized, comfortable, available, motivating, and using multimedia long before it was fashionable. Al had a particularly close relationship with Communiqué, which began publication in 1973. He was the first chairperson of our Editorial Advisory Committee, a post he conducted with his usual level of excellence for several years. He cared deeply about communication among the college's family, a banner that he ultimately carried high into his deanship. A number of us had the privilege to watch Al Jacobs grow in respect and love for osteopathic medicine across the decades, transforming himself into a stellar physician, administrator, and advocate for the college and profession. At the core, he remained a person passionate about his family, his faith, his principles, and each life he could touch. We - his family, students, colleagues, friends and profession - are his legacy. -- Pat Grauer, Director of Public Relations