Joseph Jacobson D.D.S. 

Age 103 

On July 22, 2009, Dr. Joseph Jacobson passed away in Cedars Sinai 
hospital surrounded by loved ones. Beloved father of Richard 
(Pamela) and Linda Jacobson, and adored by his four 
grandchildren, David (Kuniko), Michael, Peter and Jacqueline 
Jacobson, Dr. Jacobson was born in Cleveland, Ohio on July 5, 
1906. His family moved to Los Angeles when he was one year old. 
His father Samuel, a Russian Jew, immigrated to the US as a 
teenager. Dr. Jacobson attended Logan Street school, LA High, and 
USC's dental school, graduating in 1929. As a child and young 
adult, he was an extra in the movies, appearing in the Jazz 
Singer, the first "talkie," with Al Jolson. His dog, Boots, also 
did movie work, and had a large role in Laurel and Hardy's film, 
"Swiss Miss." 

"Dr. J" was a dentist, practicing in Los Angeles and Beverly 
Hills for 62 years. Loved and respected by his patients, he 
treated several celebrities, including Elvis Presley, Jimmy 
Durante and a former Miss Norway. He also examined Clark Gable 
while serving in the U.S. Army during World War II. Dr. Jacobson 
proudly served with distinction as a Captain in the U.S. Army 
Dental Corps, landing on Omaha beach just after D-Day. He was 
awarded 4 combat medals. 

Dr. Jacobson frequently said he was a lucky man because he "met 
two soul-mates." The first, his wife Betty, passed away in 1987. 
Phyllis Lavitt (18 years his junior), whom he met after Betty 
died, has been his loving "girlfriend" since 1989. 

Joseph Jacobson, a terrific athlete, was a gymnast when young, 
and had a single-digit handicap in golf, which he played 
passionately until the age of 94, only retiring out of 
consideration for other golfers, saying "I wouldn't play with 
anyone as bad as I am now when I was younger." An accomplished 
raconteur and humorist, he loved telling tall tales and funny 
jokes. He also loved music, had a wonderful operatic singing 
voice, and began playing the piano in his 70s. He returned to his 
first love, art, when he retired in 1991. An excellent draftsman, 
he loved drawing the human figure. 

In his later years, Dr. Jacobson went back to "school" as he 
called it, attending OPICA (a day care center for memory impaired 
adults), which he enjoyed very much. 

Joseph Jacobson lived a long and wonderful life, and his family, 
friends and former patients will miss him very much. Services 
will be today at 10am at Mt. Sinai (5950 Forest Lawn Dr., LA). In 
lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to OPICA 
(www.opica.org (tribute page); 310-478-0226). 

Published in Los Angeles Times from 7/25 to 7/26/200