Alvin Jacobson

“Al” Formerly of Lexington, died peacefully at his home in Cambridge at the age of 76 on May 21, 2018. He was born in Eugene, Oregon to Jules and Rose Jacobson and grew up in Salem, Oregon alongside his older brother Bill and twin sister Judy.

    Al was very studious growing up and developed a passion for sports at a young age. He worked summer farm jobs in the fields of Oregon and at his father’s Army/Navy store. Al earned an undergraduate degree at the University of Washington and went on to postgraduate studies in Sociology at Cornell University.

   While at Cornell on a research trip in Puerto Rico, he met Teresa Rodriguez, his future wife. They were married in San Juan on September 8, 1969.

    After completing his graduate degree at Cornell, Al accepted a teaching position at the University of North Carolina where he taught until 1975. Their first child, David, was born there in 1972.

     In 1975, Al decided to go back to school to earn an MBA from Stanford University. Following graduation, Al and family relocated back to the East Coast where they settled in Lexington, MA in 1976.

     In Lexington, Al and Teresa put down roots. Their second son, Marc was born shortly after the move and daughter Jacqueline (Jackie) was adopted in 1980.

    For 40 years Al and Teresa have been active members of First Parish Church in Lexington. First Parish has provided them both with a spiritual home and a strong network of dear friends. In 1999, Al and Teresa moved to Cambridge.

    Al had a distinguished and varied career working in consulting and the financial services industry. However, his true passions were family and community service. His children and grandchildren were everlasting sources of joy. He was an active supporter and participant with Amnesty International, Communities Without Borders and the Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry, among other organizations dedicated to the advancement of human rights. Al is survived by Teresa, David, Marc and Jackie, daughters-in-law Kristen and Sharon, grandchildren Charlie, Sasha, Alex, Leo and Oliver, brother Bill Jacobson (Los Gatos, CA) and twin sister Judy Hoffman (Portland, OR).

    Donations in Al’s memory may be made to the Al Jacobson / Communities Without Borders Traveling Fellows Program, 7 Harrington Rd., Lexington MA 02421.