Robert Edward Jakubowski

Robert (Bob) Edward Jakubowski of Centreville, Virginia passed away peacefully on February 18, 2021, at the age of 79. Bob was born in Buffalo, NY and in his youth played the accordion and founded his own polka band, where they performed weekly at weddings and community events. Robert studied Chemistry at Canisius College, and later built a profession of ensuring food production safety and quality control. His careers at Peavey, ConAgra, and Vie de France Corporations brought him from Buffalo to Minnesota, back to Buffalo, and finally to northern Virginia. Bob enjoyed his retirement with his wife of 51 years, Caroline, until she passed in 2015. They enjoyed polka dancing and were regulars at Blob's Park in Jessup, MD. They also took several polka trips in the US and to Europe, including a polka river cruise on the Danube. Bob and Caroline spent the winter months in Florida at The Villages and St. Petersburg where they enjoyed the warm weather and company of the many friends that they made on their travels. Bob was always there to help his neighbors in need. He also focused his energy on community activism following the passing of Caroline. Bob successfully lobbied Fairfax County Park Authority to implement a deer control program to limit the Lyme disease affecting his neighborhood. He also got the FCPA to surface and stripe existing county tennis courts for pickleball usage and founded the Centreville pickleball league. Bob made a lasting impact on the popularity of pickleball in western Fairfax County. Bob is survived by his son Douglas Jakubowski (Quynh Huong Jakubowski) and grandchildren Justin Anh-Tuan Jakubowski and Summer My-Linh Jakubowski of Oak Hill, VA. He is also survived by his younger brother, Ken Jakubowski and his family of St. Peterburg, FL. A viewing will take place on Saturday, February 27th from 1:00-3:00pm at Demaine Funeral Home (10565 Main Street, Fairfax, VA 22030). The viewing will also be streamed via Facebook Live from 2:00-2:30pm on https://www.facebook.com/Demaine-Funeral-Home-Fairfax-240726059947658/?ref=py_c and will also be available on Demaine’s Facebook page afterward. Online condolences may be made at https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/fairfax-va/robert-jakubowski-10063588.