Jill was born in South Amboy, New Jersey to James Jacobi and Jean Jacobi (née Loeser). She grew up in Madison Township, New Jersey, an idyllic 60’s suburb and attended Cedar Ridge High School where she played flute and saxophone in the marching band. The family spent many summers at the shore house in Ortley Beach where Jill loved to go crabbing and found her first job at a food stand on the boardwalk.
She studied history at Montclair State and, after graduating, decided to strike out for the west coast. She took a road trip across the country to San Francisco where she fell in love with the city. There she remained for the rest of her life building her home, family and successful career.
At the University of San Francisco School of Law, she was known as a brilliant mind, receiving multiple American Jurisprudence awards and graduating with honors. She worked as an attorney for 33 years, at the California Department of Insurance for 27 of those. There she was well respected, receiving multiple certificates and awards of recognition from every Insurance Commissioner under whom she worked and serving as chair of multiple committees at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
Staying in the Presbyterian church, the faith of her mother, Jill joined St Johns of San Francisco, teaching Sunday school and becoming a Deacon and an Elder.
She reveled in dressing up for Halloween and handing out candy with friends and neighbors on Lake street, and then dressing up again in the spring for Bay to Breakers. She loved getting lost on the way up Mt. Davidson for Easter sunrise service, and at the scavenger hunt during the Chinese New Year parade. Family and friends delighted in the Christmas cookies Jill baked every year from traditional family recipes passed down through generations. She loved the symphony, theater, and all the art museums in the city, especially the annual Bouquets D’art event at the De Young. Her interests spanned from rooting for her Giants and 49ers to projective dream work.
But she never forgot her New Jersey roots, returning many times over the years for school reunions and often just to spend time with family and friends down at the shore house.
Jill was an active member of the Commonwealth club, traveling with them to Africa, as well as a valued participating member of the P.E.O. sisterhood promoting the education and advancement of women.
She was a worthy competitor, whether in the courtroom or in Scrabble, generous, kind, a voice of wisdom, dedicated mother, sister and aunt, and a loyal friend.
She passed away at home surrounded by her son and members of her loving and caring community. She is mourned by her son Matthew, brother Jeffrey and his wife Janet, niece Nora, nephew James, cousin Nancy, aunt Irene, uncle Fred, as well as numerous family, colleagues, and friends.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18