Leo M. Jacobs has the distinction of being the first person to occupy the Powrie V. Doctor Chair of Deaf Studies at Gallaudet University. During his year in the chair, which was complicated by his wife's terminal illness, he wrote A Deaf Adults Speaks Out, a blunt indictment of the hearing hierarchy's attempts to shape the people in the deaf community to conform to their notion of what is normal. The book, which was greeted with both criticism and acclaim, has become a classic in the literature on deafness.

Born in San Francisco, California, July 13, 1918, he was the son of Deaf parents, and had a Deaf brother, Harry. Leo Jacobs spent 51 years of his life on campus at the California School for the Deaf, Berkeley - first as a student, later as an employee. First enrolling in CSD in 1923, he graduated at age 14 in 1933 and went on to Gallaudet College, where he graduated at age 19 in 1938. He then returned to CSD to work as a counselor in the boys' dormitory. He then became a teacher and later was the school's first Coordinator of Community and Continuing Education. Jacobs earned a Master's degree at San Francisco State University in 1957. He also served in many community roles, including being associated with the Gallaudet University Alumni Association for 23 years.

Leo was married to Dorothy "Dot" Morrison for 21 years before she passed away from cancer in 1978. Leo and Dot had two daughters, Sheila, who is a Coda, and Lisa, who is Deaf.

This photograph shows Sheila, Dorothy, Leo and Lisa in 1972. The photograph was taken for the back cover of Leo's book A Deaf Adult Speaks Out (first edition).

Upon his retirement from his teaching job at the California School for the Deaf and the passing of his wife, Jacobs moved from Oakland to Fremont when the school was relocated to remain close to the action. Jacobs then moved to Maryland in 1990 to give his other daughter a chance to live close by.

As Jacobs was settling in Maryland, he became paralyzed in 1991 due to medical negligence that was finally proven in a court of law. Even though he had many medical and legal battles to fight during the last chapter of his life, he continued to attend national Deaf Conferences around the country with the help of a Deaf aide. He loved to attend Deaf events to catch up on Deaf news and debate various current topics of interest or controversy. Leo M. Jacobs passed away at the age of 80 on December 24, 1998.

Leo's oldest daughter, Sheila, is a Marriage and Family Therapist in her own successful private practice. Sheila has been active in CODA (National Children of Deaf Adults organization) since 1984. She resides in Bay Area, California, with her husband Christopher Funchess, and their two-year old son, Ryan.

Leo's other daughter, Lisa, is a "stay at home" mom who works on a contractual basis as an educator. Prior to this, Lisa taught for a total of 14 years at Gallaudet University and Model Secondary School for the Deaf. She also was on the Board of the National Deaf Women United (DWU) organization. She is currently active in her local KODA (Kids of Deaf Adults) group. Lisa and her husband, Allen Talbert, have a six-year old daughter, Darby, and reside in Maryland.

Leo is shown in November, 1996, with daughter Lisa Jacobs, her husband Allen Talbert, and daughter Darby, who was 2 years old at the time of this photograph.

Leo's daughter Sheila Jacobs is shown with husband Christopher Funchess and Ryan (19 months old at the time of this photograph, taken in October, 2000).

[Leo's daughters, Lisa and Sheila, provided this epilogue and the photographs on this page and on the main story page. January, 2001.]

Gail Hyde
Project Coordinator, Web Design