In Memoriam: JOANNE JACOBSON

It’s difficult to convey the feelings that swarm into one’s head upon learning of the death of a friend. Joanne Jacobson was not only my friend, but she had a family of friends in the theatre community whose lives she touched in innumerable and profound ways. Her generosity of spirit, her sparkling smile and lilting laughter provided a warm breath of companionship.

Joanne and I became acquainted on our League of Professional Women sojourns to London and the Humana Festival in Louisville. Upon our return to New York, we continued the English tradition of having afternoon tea in the Palm Court at the Plaza or convening with mutual friends for a “healthy” lunch and laughter.

I remember her devotion to playwrights and her quest to encourage contemporary dramatic literature. New Dramatists President Emerita, Isobel Robins introduced her to this organization where she served on the Board with distinction for many years. “She was there for every playwright and forged relationships with them,” Isobel recalls.

Perhaps playwright, Kia Corthron describes Joanne best. “I couldn’t possibly express in a few words what a dear friend Joanne Jacobson was to me. She absolutely adored playwrights: providing a retreat in her Key West home (and fully subsidizing the associated travel and expenses), funding commissions and fellowships, offering her beautiful presence at readings and productions. I’d written my play (because I’d gone several times, our running joke was to call it “Kia West”). Afterward she wanted to read it, and she loved to tell the story of how she tried to print it but the pages went flying everywhere and she could never figure out the order because I hadn’t numbered them. (I had.) I could share a thousand funny playwriting anecdotes like that but our relationship went far beyond the theatre. We were close. We shared our personal stresses and our personal joys. My heart aches to know I’ll never again hear her latest Emma story or her protective scolding or her laughter. There will never ever, ever be another Joanne and I am so so lucky to have called her my friend.”

Joanne F. Jacobson (née Joanne Louise Fox) was born December 19, 1932 in Cambridge, MA and raised in Lowell. She moved to NYC in 1952 where she studied at Barnard and then the Actor’s Studio. Her theater credits include and The Crucible, Uncle Vanya and Naomi Court; film credits include Midnight Cowboy, Falling From Grace, and Desirée .

She is survived by her daughter and son, Jennifer and J.R. Hellman, step-son, James Jacobson Jr. and her grandson, Dexter Jerome Nicholson. The date of her passing was June 8, 2018 in NYC.

~ LPTW member Harriet Slaughter