Herbert I. Jacobson

Guilderland - Herbert Irving Jacobson passed away peacefully on March 15, 2024, two days shy of his 101st birthday. An inveterate romantic, he is now with the love of his life, Reva Veis, whom he met on a blind date, married, and spent 65 years with, until she died in 2018.

 Herb led a life of positive accomplishments for medical research, his family, and his country. He was born in 1923 in Chicago to Anna and Eli Jacobson, recent immigrants from Russia and Romania. He served honorably in the Signal Corps of the US Army as a Sergeant in World War II, stationed in New Guinea and the Philippines. After being discharged in San Francisco, he joined a good friend driving to Chicago, an adventure he found to be the perfect reintroduction to civilian life.

Herb joined millions of other veterans using the G.I. Bill to finish his education, earning a B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Chicago. He was one of the pioneers of breast cancer receptor research and was passionate about trying to help women. He and Elwood Jensen discovered the estrogen receptor in 1958. From 1964, he conducted his research at Albany Medical College, where he was employed for over 50 years. He worked well into his 90s, and continued to consult after he retired. He also did research at the Max Planck Institutes in Munich and Wilhelmshaven, Germany, and frequently presented his findings at international conferences, ranging from Ireland, Italy, and India, to Thailand and Russia. Fiercely proud of the advances in medicine, some of which he was involved with, he had no patience with science deniers. Herb completed crossword puzzles in pen, was a proud member of Mensa, and, in his earlier years, sang with the chorus at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

In October 2022, he participated in a Patriot Flight from Albany to Washington, DC. He was honored to have been able to be a part of this, and he was the sole representative on that trip of the millions of Americans who served in WWII.

Herb is survived by his daughters Trudi Jacobson and Carol Weston, and his grandson Kyle Weston. He had close relationships with John Vallely, Trudi’s husband, and Erich Scheel, Carol’s partner. He was looking forward to Kyle’s marriage to Courtney Czubaruk (son Caden). His honorary daughter, Christina Carrow, was an amazing companion to both Herb and Reva. He was predeceased by his wife Reva and his son Frederick.

Special thanks to Neska Cadet, his care team at Home Instead, and to Our Lady of Mercy Life Center. Instead of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in Herb’s name to BCRF (The Breast Cancer Research Foundation).

Funeral services for Herb will be held graveside on Monday March 18th at 10:00 am at Beth Emeth Cemetery, 58 Turner Lane in Loudonville. 

The following is a link to Dr. Jacobson reminiscing about key points in his life in the context of the value of sharing of information: "Don't Work Under The Lamp Post"

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