Thomas Paul Jacobsen

The Great Elk in the Sky has welcomed Thomas “Tom” Paul Jacobsen of Gilbert, Arizona, to join the great beyond. Tom passed away peacefully at the age of 67 on June 16, 2018, with each of his immediate family members by his side during his final days. You will now find Tom, in spirit, once again golfing, deep-sea fishing, camping the Oregon coast with his beloved rescue dogs, tide-pooling, and cooking up seafood steamer pots before retiring for the day in his Pop-Up camper to watch “classic!” Sci-Fi and action flicks. Dad / Grandpa Tom must be telling children stories about “The Land of Blue/Red/Green/Yellow”, teaching them to track colorful snipe, and is spending Saturday mornings flipping blue pancakes for them while together watching The Smurfs cartoons. Tom is certainly still BBQing poolside with Yoshida sauce (Costco bulk-size) and zipping a ski boat around canyon lakes with buddies and family while blasting songs on the stereo like “Take on Me” (by Norwegian pop band, a-ha). Now reunited, Tom is surely razzing his late parents, in-laws and aunt and uncle, "come on ya old folks, don’t you wanna give the ol’ water skis a shot?" - Because “you never know till you ask,” he’d always tell you. With charisma and contagious laughter that made him larger than life, Tom always wanted to try everything and live big, and encouraged others to do the same. He is finally able to be the best version of himself again in this infinite peace and freedom.

Tom was born April 17, 1951 in New York with strikingly big blue eyes. He grew up in Tallmadge, Ohio, with his two parents (Dorothy [Klein] and Walter Jacobsen), big bro, Chris, and little sis, Barbara. Tom followed a calling to the southwest and went to Arizona State University (for both undergrad and graduate school). There he met the love of his life, innocently joyful cheerleader and elementary school teacher, through and through, Margi [Blanton] Jacobsen. Tom and Margi were married for 33 years, raising their two children, Traci and Kevin, with tremendous love, support, balance, fun, travel and the great outdoors. These values will be passed down for generations, beginning with Tom’s two little grandsons, Lyrek and Lennon.

A healthcare executive and registered nurse who valued treating all employees equally regardless of their rank on the totem pole, Tom served his career as a Hospital Administrator, including at Chandler Regional Hospital (Chandler, AZ), Centinela Mammoth Hospital (Mammoth Lakes, CA), Desert Samaritan Hospital (Mesa, AZ) and at Arizona State University’s Student Health Center (Tempe, AZ). He also was a Consultant for both inpatient and outpatient facilities in operations, construction and accreditation as well as a Surveyor for the Accreditation for Ambulatory Health Care. Tom once found a particularly rewarding role in his career serving as Director of Development for Life Care Services at Friendship Village in Tempe, Arizona, where he had also served on the Board of Directors. Most sentimental and appropriate, Friendship Village is exactly where Tom was able to pass into eternal peace.

Tom spent his life taking care of others and tried to add humor and laughter into everything. He had a special place in his heart for people with mental and physical disabilities, children in need and rescue dogs. During his life, Tom served on the Board of Directors for the Child Crisis Center and was on the Arizona Citizen Review Panel for Children, was an Oregon Coast Aquarium Volunteer Interpreter, and volunteered at his church. He took loving pride and went to great lengths to care for numerous elderly family members with tremendous devotion. To the very end, Tom’s big ol’ heart was so strong and yet so caring.

Tom often sang songs to his kids, including “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles, bright and early every morning. Dad, as the lyric has always assured us, “It’s alright”: We love you fondly, and thank you for making our lives and this world a sunnier, better place.

Tom is survived by his children, Traci and Kevin, siblings, Chris and Barbara, grandsons Lyrek and Lennon, life love and friend, Margi, and his big fumbly rescue doggie, Chance.

There will be three private family services of memoriam and celebrations of Tom’s life in very sentimental places: Prescott, Arizona by his in-laws (Charlie and Elsie Blanton); Santa Fe, New Mexico by his parents; and on a ski boat at sunset in the canyons of Lake Powell.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish may send a charitable donation in Tom’s name to the Child Crisis Center in Mesa, Arizona and/or to 2nd Chance Dog Rescue in Queen Creek, Arizona. Tom’s memory will be best honored by folks living a life involving service to others (especially to those who are underserved and/or don’t have their own voice), adopting and caring for rescue dogs, and living an authentic and big life full of family, forgiveness, and laughter.

~ Written with love by Tom’s little peanut, Traci ~