Gitta Jacobs
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Born: June 19, 1933
Died: December 7, 2018 Gitta was a champion of the storefront theaters of Chicago. She loved and supported smaller theaters that truly blossomed under her nurturing eye. As a child, along with her family, Jacobs escaped the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany and later recalled seeing boots of Nazi soldiers while in hiding. They survived a harrowing passage by train to Italy where they began their long road to freedom. Her family, wealthy in Austria, found wealth again in the United States. Once bullied at school because classmates unjustly accused her of being a Nazi sympathizer, Gita was homeschooled and learned English through American radio, movies and television- particularly soap operas. Jacobs attended Northwestern University where she studied theater. Her tenacity, according to her son Clay, led her to serve on the board of directors for more small Chicago theaters than any other single individual. She had an uncanny way of seeing potential and supporting it- a trait that help bring many productions to light in the Chicago theater scene. She also served as a judge on the Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee. Her love of theater and its artists ran deep. In addition to theater- Gitta was a generous supporter of several charities, particularly Misericordia Homes and the NICU unit at Children's Memorial Hospital where she gave comfort to many infants and their families. She is survived by her children Tracey Jacobs, Clayton Jacobs (Laura Ginett), Zachary Jacobs, Jennifer Jacobs Geis (Douglas), Billy Jacobs and Christopher Jacobs, as well as her grandchildren Kristina, John Patrick, Erin Kathleen, Kiley, Luke and Greer Jacobs and Jarrett and Sarah Kreger; Charlie, William and Matthew Geis; Calvin De Castro and great-grandchildren, Jimmer Jacobs and Henry Bosch. |