Anniversary Hike to Remember Lou Jacobs, June 12, 2008

A hike in memory of longtime AMC member and committee chair Lou Jacobs was held on 4/27/08, just two days short of the anniversary of his sudden death last year. Dick Sullivan lead the hike through the gardens and forested groves between North Kingstown’s Veterans Cemetery and the Queens River.

Lou was remembered by all present as having a great personality and many diverse friends. Comments like “Lou knew every subject you can imagine… He was a walking historian” were heard frequently among gathered friends and family. Just this memory alone brought a smile to the speaker every time. His sister remembered how he was always there for her. She also remarked that he had other ‘families’ besides theirs because he became so deeply involved with so many different kinds of people. “Lou loved to talk!” Several other family members were also present for the hike with a large group of friends in spite of the cold early-spring drizzle.

Lou had been in the Navy as a young man. According to his brother and sister he was very proud of time in the service but didn’t talk about it much. He served stateside at the time of the Viet Nam War. After discharge he worked in several New England shipyards where he was popular among co-workers. He had wanted to retire to AZ in the future.

Dick Sullivan told stories about how he met Lou around 2000 and introduced him to AMC. “He really made a mark on the club even though he was only in for about 7 years” Dick recalled. Other friends remembered how Lou was always willing to engage people, especially new AMC members. He even met his wife Roberta through AMC, continuing a family tradition shared by his sister & brother-in-law. He hosted famous potlucks at his house after Buffumville hikes and according to several friends “he was very generous… he would invite everyone he could!”

By consensus Lou was known as a “great hike leader”, kindly making sure everyone had the right equipment for conditions. A quick search of the Narr-AMC website finds his name peppered all over the hiking schedules from those years. He was recognized as a prolific leader numerous times. As Chair he pulled the Local Hike Committee into something much bigger than it had been previously. For this all current and future Narr-AMC hikers are in his debt.