JACOB (JACK) L. Age 89, passed away on May 6, 2012 at his home in Albuquerque. There will be a memorial service at Congregation Albert on May 8, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Cancer Society. Jack's life story is a classic tale of the 20th century American Jewish experience. His father Hyman Davidson was born in Poland and arrived in this country aboard the Lusitania in 1911. He was admitted at Ellis Island. Hyman established a grocery business in Auburn, Maine. In 1921, he sent for his wife Fannie and 11-year-old son Nathan to join him in America. They arrived in Boston aboard the Saxonia. Jack was born a year later, the first American citizen in his family. A grocery store still stands on the spot in Auburn Main. The Davidsons were joined in Auburn by some distant cousins, the Rubins from Russia. They had a young daughter named Jennie (later changed to Jeanne). Jack and Jeanne played together as children. Jack fondly remembered showing her how to cross the railroad tracks across the Androscoggin River. Jack was a Boy Scout, first class, and the champion bean picker in the State of Maine in his youth. He was also a budding labor organizer, campaigning and winning a raise for the bean pickers in his part of the state. Jack enlisted in the Army Air Corps and served in WW II. He had fond memories of dancing on the bandstand and dance floor built inside the Eiffel Tower in Paris. After the war ended, Jack attained a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Bates College and a Master's Degree from Boston University. He married Bernice Beckerman in Mattapan, MA in 1950. Jack began his career as a math teacher and later became a mechanical engineer. In 1988, after Jack's beloved wife Bernice passed away in MA, Jack visited Jeanne Jacobvitz in Albuquerque, and romance bloomed. Like Jack, Jeanne had recently lost her spouse. Jack and Jeanne were married at Congregation Albert in May 1990 to the delight of both families. Jack and Jeanne loved to dance, and frequently attended plays. They were also active in a square dance group, and had many friends. Jack was extremely proud of his two children, Anne Davidson and Jeffrey Davidson. Anne, an investment advisor and Senior Vice President with Wells Fargo Advisors in Dallas, graduated from Tufts University, Summa Cum Laude. Jack taught Anne how to dance, and he loved visiting her in Dallas and taking her out dancing. Jeffrey was an honor student at Boston Latin High School, Harvard University and Harvard Law School. He currently is a senior partner in the law firm of Stutman, Treister & Glatt in Los Angeles. Jeff married Cynthia Cohen, who Jack treasured as a daughter; and their son Clifford, also an attorney and graduate of Harvard College and University of Michigan Law School, was a special source of joy in Jack's life. Cliff's husband, Norman Andrew Sfeir, is a graduate of Harvard College and Stanford Law School. Jack was also extremely proud of Rita (Beckerman) Davidsen, his sister-in-law, whom Jack raised as a daughter. Rita's husband, Kurt Davidsen, and their son is Kenneth, reside in Las Vegas, NV. Rita, a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music, is an accomplished operatic singer. Jack is also survived by his four step children, Barbara Kalis (a teacher at The International School of Bangkok) and her spouse Ron Kalis; Robert Jacobvitz (a bankruptcy judge) and his spouse Robin Jacobvitz; Michael Jacobvitz (a geologist north of San Francisco) and his spouse Laurie Jacobvitz; and Deborah Jacobvitz (a professor at University of Texas at Austin) and her spouse Jerry Manheimer; and by grandchildren Adam Jacobvitz, Sarah Jacobvitz, Christopher Kalis, Allison Kalis, Julia Manheimer and Ethan Manheimer. Jack was particularly fond of dancing with Julia. Jack was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Nathan. Jack is survived by Nate's children, Stanley Deborah and Herbert. Jack will be deeply missed.
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