Marilyn Jacobs

Marilyn Jacobs of Freehold Township passed away on September 28, 2026 at the age of 85, leaving behind a remarkable legacy as a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and aunt, as well as a dedicated special education teacher and tireless advocate for her local hospital and community.

Marilyn was the beloved wife of the late Joseph Jacobs, with whom she shared 53 years of marriage before his passing in 2017. They met and married in New York City, later moving to New Jersey, before settling in Freehold Township in 1974, where they raised their three sons and became deeply rooted in the community they called home.

Born and educated in New York City, Marilyn attended the High School of Music & Art as a talented piano player and singer before earning her undergraduate degree from Barnard College and her master’s degree from Teachers College, Columbia University. Education was one of Marilyn’s great passions of her life. She devoted her teaching career to special education, including many years at Long Branch High School, as well as other schools in the South Bronx and New Jersey. Marilyn had a special gift for students who needed additional patience, encouragement and understanding, and believed deeply in helping every student overcome challenges and recognize his or her own potential.

That same desire to help others inspired Marilyn’s extraordinary commitment to CentraState Medical Center. Her involvement began in the hospital’s early years and continued for more than five decades. She held numerous leadership positions with the CentraState Associated Auxiliaries and devoted countless hours to fundraising for facilities, programs and patient services. She was particularly proud of her support for the Linda E. Cardinale Multiple Sclerosis Center.

Her decades of service reflected a simple belief that helping her community was both a responsibility and a privilege. Her legacy at CentraState was further honored through the establishment of the Marilyn and Joseph Jacobs Genetic Testing Program, created in connection with Marilyn’s 80th birthday and in Joe’s memory to help expand access to genetic testing for patients in need.

Yet for all she accomplished as a teacher, volunteer and fundraiser, family was always the center of Marilyn’s life. She and Joe took enormous pride in their three sons, Alan and his wife Judy; Eric and his wife Claudia; and Brandon and his wife Shannon, and she cherished her grandchildren, Ariel, Courtney, Colin, Lindsay and Caroline.

Marilyn’s definition of family extended well beyond her immediate household. She cared for family members and friends when they were sick and loved nieces, nephews and extended family as though they were her own children. She was extraordinarily selfless, consistently putting the needs and well-being of those she loved ahead of her own. Her friends received that same devotion. Until late in her life, Marilyn was still driving friends wherever they needed to go, helping because she could and because caring for others simply came naturally to her.

Marilyn also loved antiquing and flea markets and had an eye for discovering treasures others might overlook. For many years, she conducted home and estate contents sales, combining her love of interesting objects and their histories with fundraising for CentraState and something she enjoyed just as much—meeting and connecting with people.

Marilyn’s life was remarkably consistent in its purpose. Whether she was caring for a family member, advocating for a special education student, raising money for CentraState, helping a friend, or welcoming extended family as her own, she put people first. She gave generously of her time, energy and love and rarely asked for anything in return.

She will be deeply missed by her family, friends, neighbors, former students, fellow CentraState volunteers, and the many people whose lives were made better by her kindness and generosity.

Marilyn leaves behind more than a lifetime of accomplishments. She leaves her family an enduring example of compassion, loyalty, selflessness and the importance of taking care of one another.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00am on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at Bloomfield-Cooper Jewish Chapels, 44 Wilson Avenue, Manalapan, New Jersey 07726. Friends and extended family should arrive between 10:15am - 10:45am for the 11:00am funeral service to pay their respects to the family before the service begins.

A committal service will immediately follow at 12:30pm at Mount Sinai Cemetery, 374 Route 79, Marlboro, New Jersey 07746.

The family will be receiving visitors Wednesday following the interment until 8:00 pm, Thursday 5:00-9:00 pm and Friday 12:00-4:00 pm at Brandon and Shannon’s house, 3 McIntosh Lane, Manalapan, NJ.

Shiva will be held Sunday 7:30-9:00 pm and Monday 5:00-9:00 pm at Alan and Judy’s house, 43 Eisele Avenue, Ocean Township, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Marilyn's memory may be made to the CentraState Healthcare Foundation, 225 Willow Brook Road, Suite 5, Freehold, NJ 07728, in support of any of the Marilyn and Joseph Jacobs Genetic Testing Program, the Linda E. Cardinale Multiple Sclerosis Center or the CentraState Associated Auxiliaries, in honor of Marilyn’s lifetime of service to CentraState and her community.