Stephen Jacobsen

Stephen Paulmier Jacobsen, 77, passed away peacefully at RiverWoods in Lewisburg on Thursday, December 5, 2019, after more than a year's illness. He was born on January 23, 1942, in Trenton, New Jersey, son of Irvin S. and Dorothea (Paulmier) Jacobsen.

Steve is survived by his wife Marion.  They were married 52 years.  He is also survived by his son Mark R. Jacobsen, daughter-in-law Weiyi Shi, and granddaughter Isabel Shi Jacobsen of San Diego, California, and by his brother Robert S. Jacobsen of Medford, Oregon.  He was predeceased by his brother Keith M. Jacobsen.

He graduated from Neptune High School in New Jersey in1959, and Montclair State University in 1963.  He earned his PhD in physics from Northeastern University in 1973.  He taught physics and other sciences at Lewisburg Area High School (1972-1995) and was an adjunct instructor at Bucknell University.  He was also a visiting physics teacher at Ida Scudder School in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.

Steve was a passionate advocate for peace, justice, and nonviolence, working with many different local, national and church organizations. He was a founding board member of the Lewisburg Prison Project (1976); co-founder of the Lewisburg Listening Post (1977); and founding member and for several years chair of the board of Project IMPACT, 1985-1995 (facilitating visits and communication for women with their children at the State Correctional Institution in Muncy).  From 1996 to 1999, he was business manager (and later board member) of the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America (Lake Junaluska, North Carolina).  From 1999 to 2008 he was deputy director and mediator with the four-county Community Dispute Resolution Center, Ithaca NY.  He was a member of the National Council of the Fellowship of Reconciliation and treasurer, 2011-2017.  Upon retirement in 2008, he returned to Lewisburg where he was a founding board member and mediator with the Central Susquehanna Valley Mediation Center, 2009-2019.

Steve's work was recognized with several awards, including the following.  In 1996 he was named Physics Teacher of the Year by the central Pennsylvania chapter of the American Association of Physics Teachers.  In 2012 he received the Peacemaker Award from the Center for Nonviolent Living in Lewisburg.  In 2019 he was recognized as Outstanding Volunteer by the National Association for Community Mediation.

Steve enjoyed hiking and backpacking, traveling, studying, and discussing science and important issues with his friends.  His favorite place was in the woods, especially near the family's simple cabin near Gaines, Pennsylvania.

A memorial service will take place at his church, First Baptist of Lewisburg, on Friday, December 13 at 2:00 PM.

Donations in Steve's memory may be made to Central Susquehanna Valley Mediation Center, 713 Bridge St. #3, Selinsgrove, PA 17870.