Janice Johnson Jacoby

After 88 beautiful years of life, Janice Johnson Jacoby passed away peacefully at her home on January 1, 2025 in Winter Springs, Florida. She was born on November 12, 1936, in Chicago, Illinois to her mother, Thelma Johnson, and her father, Albert Johnson.

Jan spent her first ten years in Chicago until her father passed, at which time the family moved to Fairhaven, Massachusetts. Her formative years were spent in Fairhaven where she excelled at Water Elementary School, McPherson School and Fairhaven High School. Through the years she continued to attend many high school reunions, as she treasured the long-term relationships with her high school classmates. During her childhood, her immediate and extended family spent summers at their beach home in Fairhaven, making many cherished memories.

After completing high school at the age of 17, she went on to attend the University of Tampa for two years. This is where she met Bob Eustace. They married and over the years were blessed with four children. They began their life together in Baltimore, Maryland and ultimately moved to the Orlando area. Here, Jan would live for the remainder of her life, raising her family and serving the community. In 1984, she remarried Harvey Jacoby, the love of her life, and embraced his two children as her own.

Valuing education, she returned to college and earned a bachelor’s degree in English and Political Science at Florida Technical University, now known as University of Central Florida. She had a successful career in real estate development, making major contributions at Cardinal Homes, Red Lobster, Sigma Con and launched her own consulting firm, Leader Investment Group. She thrived on learning and loved starting each day reading The Orlando Sentinel with a cup of coffee.

In her younger years, she enjoyed traveling. Her favorite adventures were to Australia, New Zealand and Alaska. Besides domestic travel she had fond memories of her travels to Sweden, Russia, Germany, England, Scotland, Denmark, the Netherlands, and annual trips to Bermuda with friends.

Jan was admired, adored and an inspiration to all. She was equal parts loving and loveable. She had a wonderful sense of humor and her smile and laughter were unmatched. Whether with family, friends or strangers passing by, she brought sunshine to everyone she met. She valued relationships and her kindness and generosity cast a wide net. She and Harvey had an abundance of friends, and particularly loved their relationship with many bartenders and servers from the hand-chosen restaurants they frequented. They had an enriched role as wise counselors and their guidance was a blessing to all who sought their advice. She followed many people and rekindled old friendships through Facebook. It provided a way to stay in touch and she could be found posting hearts, thumbs ups, kind words or words of encouragement. She always stayed optimistic and positive. Even when life tossed hurdles her way she believed tomorrow would be a better day.

Family was Jan’s entire world and the joy of her life. She loved her six children with fierce passion and showed love to each of them in her own special way. She realized they were different, all with unique and beautiful qualities. She beamed with pride over her ‘grands’ and great-grandchildren and proudly displayed the special treasures they gave her over the years. Jan never forgot a birthday, she prayed for others at their highest and hardest times, and provided sound advice without being judgmental. She was each family member’s greatest cheerleader always offering support. She marked time with celebrations and established incredible traditions. The height of her happiness was large family gatherings and she treasured time together. She taught the value of family and considered hers ‘the best family ever’ which was embraced by all. Sharing so many years with her was a blessing and now she is ultimately where she wanted to be, by Harvey’s side.

Though deeply missed, Jan’s memory will live on in the hearts of her loved ones and the countless lives she touched.

She is predeceased by her husband, Harvey Jacoby and is survived by her twin sister, Joyce Johnson; her children - Alan Eustace (Kathy Kwan), Kathy Babcock (Howard Babcock), Bemmie Eustace (Julie Goodwin), Barb Martin (Rick Collins), Susan Jacoby (Scout) and Steve Jacoby (Janet Jacoby); her grandchildren - Katelyn Eustace, M Eustace, Ellie Eustace, Marsha Poh (Tristan Poh), Molly Cleere (Thomas Cleere), Lindsay Cannata, Brittany Martin, Jaden Jacoby, Caroline Jacoby; and her great-grandchildren – Madeline Poh, Gabriel Poh, Brianna Cannata, Jaylah Houston and Jonathon Houston.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, www.stjude.org, one of Jan’s favorite charities.

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not on your own understanding. In all ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”