Berne Lee Jacobs

Jacobs, Berne Lee Jr. Age 79 Kalamazoo, Mich. Berne Lee Jacobs Jr., age 79, died at home Sunday evening Nov. 28, 2010, with his family by his side. Berne, known to many as BJ, was a quiet, soft-spoken, gentle man, with a caring, compassionate and generous spirit. He loved and admired his family, and supported them in whatever they chose to do. He was also truly interested in people, their lives and their ideas. He was an accepting, non-judgmental man. This extended not only to his family, friends and students, but also to acquaintances and sometimes even strangers. He was keenly observant and possessed a rare sense of humor which was both kind and wise. Berne was born Aug. 29, 1931, in Petoskey, Mich. After graduating from Petoskey High School, he completed undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of Michigan, receiving a Ph.D. in Psychology in 1959. Berne also met his wife Jo at U of M, and the two were married on June 23, 1956. They lived in Santa Barbara from 1959 to 1962 while Berne taught at the University of California. In 1963, they moved to Kalamazoo where Berne became a Professor of Psychology at Kalamazoo College, serving periodically as department chair until his retirement in 1994. During his 31-year tenure at K-College, Berne was a valued mentor for many students, was well-liked and respected by his colleagues, and was instrumental in introducing Humanistic Psychology into the Kalamazoo College curriculum. Berne's first love was his family. His second was teaching and his students. He acknowledged the unique qualities of all of his students and took time to know them as people. Berne really wanted his students to succeed in their studies, their professions and in their lives, and he was willing to do whatever he could do to help make that happen. He was an enthusiastic and crafty tennis player, who had perfected (and delightfully employed) a special drop shot. He was also an avid candle-maker, providing a glowing backdrop for many fine winter evenings of conversation and fellowship. In addition to Jo, Berne is survived by a sister Jan (John Smith) of Petoskey, Mich; and three children: Becky Jacobs of Appleton, Wis; Scott Jacobs (and Amy) of Ann Arbor, and Katie Jacobs (and Judy Worden) of Kalamazoo. The family requests memorial donations be directed to: The Kalamazoo College Fund (www.kzoo.edu/giving); The United Negro College Fund (www.uncf.org); or the Michigan Parkinson Foundation (www.parkinsonsmi.org/waysToGive.php). A Celebration marking Berne's life will be held early in 2011. Details will be posted on Berne's Book of Memories page at http://www.avinkcremation.com. =