Harvey Dezen
Aurora resident Harvey Dezen passed away on April 25, 2022, at the age of 93. A service was held April 28 at Feldman Mortuary, officiated by Dr. Claude Brachfeld. Interment was at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Buena Vista. Arrangements were made by Feldman Mortuary.
Mr. Dezen was born in Sharon, Pa., and spent his adult life in Cumberland, Md., before moving to Aurora in 2020. Mr. Dezen and his wife Celia were married in 1952 and were a couple until Mr. Dezen’s passing.
Together, Mr. and Mrs. Dezen operated six auto tire and repair stores in Cumberland and in Keyser, West Virginia.
According to his family, Mr. Dezen “was passionate about the safety and success of the state of Israel. He had a record of zero tolerance for anti-Semitism and racial prejudice.”
Survivors are Mr. Dezen’s wife Celia; children David (Edra Pollin) Dezen, Jeffrey (Shelly) Dezen, Daniel (Lauren) Dezen; and six grandchildren.
Contributions may be made to ALYN Hospital and Friends of Israel Defense Forces.
Gordon Jacobs
Gordon Jacobs, brother of former IJN senior writer Andrea Jacobs, passed away May 18, 2022, in Stockholm, Sweden. His loving wife and devoted caregivers were by his side. Mr. Jacobs was 82.
“My brother was a brilliant person who suffered from mental illness since his mid-20s,” his sister Andrea said. “Despite hard circumstances, he never lost the ability to love deeply and laugh at the reality beyond his control.”
Mr. Jacobs was born April 21, 1940, in St. Louis, Mo. He attended Johns Hopkins University and transferred to Washington University Dental School. Following basic training at Fort Leonard Wood and Fort Sam Houston, Gordon decided to travel throughout Europe in 1964.
He met Lisbeth Stendahl in Stockholm in November, 1965. The couple later moved to St. Louis, where they were married on March 31, 1967.
Mr. Jacobs worked as a chemical technician at a large St. Louis corporation until 1973, when the couple permanently returned to Stockholm to protest President Richard Nixon’s reelection in 1972.
An avid student of history, particularly the Civil War and WW II, he recounted pivotal battles and great military leaders with unfailing accuracy. He also loved classical music, animals and Swedish food.
“Three years ago, Gord was placed in an excellent elder care residence in Stockholm,” Andrea said. “He blossomed, and the staff adored him. ‘I have no regrets,’ he told his wife near the end. ‘I just want to go to sleep.’”
Gordon Jacobs is survived by his wife Lisbeth Jacobs and sister Andrea Jacobs.
His sister Jackie passed away March 22, 2022.
Contributions may be made to the mental health or animal rescue organization of choice.
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