On May 6, 2024, San Diego philanthropist Joan Jacobs passed at 91, leaving behind an inspiring legacy that lives on through her four sons, 14 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. As we celebrate our Giving Issue, we speak with Joan’s husband, Qualcomm co-founder Irwin Jacobs, to commemorate the visionary’s exemplary life.
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Irwin and Joan Jacobs; PHOTO BY GIANNI DI NATALE
Tell us about the organizations closest to Joan’s heart.
Joan was passionate about the many charitable organizations that we support but was perhaps closest to the La Jolla Playhouse. She was on the board and active ever since it restarted producing plays on the UC San Diego campus near our home. She also put a lot of time into the UC San Diego Jacobs Medical Center, participating in the planning, selecting art for the walls, and starting an advisory committee after it opened. Her particular focus was patient care, particularly the food options and quality, given her background as a dietitian, including working at Boston Lying-In Hospital.
Which causes were closest to her heart?
She was passionate about scholarship and fellowship help for students whose financial needs might otherwise have prevented them from attending college.
What do you think she’d want her legacy to be?
One can achieve a close-knit and loving family while devoting substantial resources and time to the community. She died just before our 70th anniversary but did get to enjoy a rehearsal in the almost completed Jacobs Music Center.
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