Laurance David Jacobs

Laurance David Jacobs died May 25, 2009, in London, England.

A native Londoner, he was born May 2, 1937, and prepared at Finsbury Central Foundation Boys School there. He resided in Winthrop House during sophomore year but then returned to England, completing a B.A. and an M.A. at the University of Cambridge in 1961 and 1965, respectively. His graduate education continued at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned his Ph.D. in physics in 1966, and the University of Brunei, where he acquired an M.Tech.

After spending twelve years in the field of high-energy experimental physics at CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research), CEA Saclay (the Commission for Atomic Energy in Saclay, France), and the University of Tel-Aviv, he worked for eleven years as a technical consultant on computer applications in the London Stock Exchange.

In 1985 he returned to academia and became a senior lecturer in computer science, School of Information Systems, at Middlesex University in London.

He lived for very nearly two decades after a heart transplant at London's Harefield Hospital in July 1989.

A music lover and former member of the Harvard Glee Club, he lent his bass voice to many choirs over the years and enjoyed attending chamber music concerts.

He was survived by his wife of forty-eight years, Myrna (Appleton); a daughter, Jane; and a son, James-Guy.

Reprinted courtesy of the Harvard Alumni Association Class Report Office from the Harvard and Radcliffe Classes of 1960 Fiftieth Anniversary Report.