Never was there a more loving and honorable
man than Arturo Alfonso Jacobs, age 87, who died September 5, 2022, in Edmonds,
Washington. He was born in Laredo, Texas, on May 28, 1935, to José C Jacobs and
Adelfa (García) Jacobs and graduated from Laredo’s Martin High School in 1952. He
served two years in the U.S. Army 1954-56, during which he was stationed in
Germany for 18 months. Arturo earned a BBA at the University of Texas at Austin
(1958) and an MBA at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio (1973). His career
with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) began in 1958. In 1981, the IRS
Executive Board selected Arturo as the first Director of the then-new Houston
District of IRS (1981-1992). Previously, he was IRS Director for Washington
State (1978-1981), New Mexico (1975-1978), and Assistant Director in Louisiana (1974-75).
In 1991, President George H.W. Bush presented Arturo with the Meritorious
Executive Award, one of the highest awards the President of the United States
can give a government executive. Arturo also received the IRS’ highest national
honor, the IRS Commissioner’s Award, in 1988 and 1992. He was everyone’s “favorite
boss” for a demonstrated commitment in words and actions to his employees and
the communities he served.
After 33 years of service in the IRS, Arturo
retired in 1992 and became an international tax consultant. For more than 25
years, he provided tax administration guidance to governments of more than 30
countries around the world on tax reform projects financed by the World Bank,
the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID); the Inter-American
Development Bank; and the U.S. Treasury Department.
Arturo is survived by the love of his
life, his wife of 62 years, Belinda, a retired school teacher who often accompanied
him on his consulting travels around the world. Other survivors, whom he adored
with all his heart (and who loved him back, beyond measure), include son René
Jacobs (Betty); daughter Diana Noble (Russ); five grandchildren: Taylor (Tay)
Noble; Adam Noble; Sierra Noble, Dylan Jacobs and Isaiah Jacobs; daughter-in-law
MarLisa Jacobs; step-grandchildren Melanie Ayers and Joseph Kulakowski; great-granddaughter,
Cora Noble; brother, José Jacobs Jr of Laredo as well as numerous other cherished
relatives. He was preceded in death by his oldest son, Arturo Jacobs, Jr.,
brother David Jacobs and sister Dolores Hall.
All the positive adjectives in the world couldn’t
adequately convey the beauty of Arturo’s spirit, his gentle and generous
nature, wisdom, empathy, humor, patience, kindness, integrity and tender heart.
His legacy will live on in all those whom he knew and loved. Arturo’s Seattle
family will host a private dinner in his honor. In lieu of flowers, you may donate
in his name to the Texas Exes (University of Texas) Hispanic Alumni Network
Scholarship Fund at:
https://www.texasexes.org/chapters-and-networks/find-chapter-or-network/149/hispanic-alumni.