If you were lucky enough to gather around a dinner table or an impromptu living room stage with Tom Jacobs, you already know how much we’ll miss him.

A veteran, luthier, and musician, Tom was born in Southern California. At 14, he moved to Florida with his mother to join his brother, Jake, and Jake's wife, Carol. Here, he would build a life, a family, and a body of work rooted in his hands and heart. Tom proudly served in the United States Navy aboard the USS Richard B. Russell (SSN-687) from 1976 to 1978, where he worked in electronics and radio mechanics. He loved telling stories about life aboard a submarine — learning to sleep in impossibly tight spaces and the sheer range of skills every submarine sailor had to master. 

Throughout his life, he built furniture, fishing poles, and golf clubs. His ability to paint and draw was remarkable — his exquisitely detailed still life paintings were the product of years studying the techniques of painters he admired. Music ran through Tom's life.

 As a young man, he got a job building Guild Guitars. Decades later, he and his wife Delyne opened Jacobs Custom Guitars in 2016 following his retirement from 20 years at Lockheed Martin. His reputation for flawless restorations, repairs, and custom-built guitars led people worldwide to trust him with their instruments. It genuinely surprised him to learn how well known a luthier he'd become. He built guitars for his grandchildren and helped his daughter Teresa and granddaughter Abby learn to play. 

A devoted fan of Dawn Sears & the Time Jumpers, he would often listen to the song "Sweet Memories." He made his own music too, playing 12-bar blues and '60s-'70s rock with bandmates Dave Jacobs, Steve Rinker, Steve Palmer, John Black, and Tom Fornoff. Tom had fond memories of big, noisy family meals with his Italian grandparents. He loved blending food, family, and conversation, cooking elaborate Mexican and Italian feasts from hundreds of recipes that he made into something entirely his own. 

He also loved games, particularly cribbage and acey-deucey, which he would play with any family member brave enough to take him on. Of all the roles Tom held, his role in his family may have brought him the most joy. He looked up to his brother, Jake, and was deeply proud of what he accomplished. He was charmed by his youngest grandchild, Artemisia, and took pleasure in hosting sleepovers for grandchildren with Delyne and introducing them to Looney Tunes. During his illness, he shared with his daughter Jennifer that “love conquers all” — a message he wanted to leave behind for his family to help them cherish each other after his passing. 

Tom died at 73 after a short illness and is survived by his wife, Delyne; his children, Jennifer, Teresa, and Jake; his stepchildren, Michael and Christy; his grandchildren, Emily, Abby, Leo, Jory, Artemisia, Emileigh, Irving, Caitlin, Shelbylynn, Savannah, and Shea, who knew him as Papa, Grandpa, and Nonno; his sister-in-law, Carol; and his niece, Jessica, and her family. 

Tom's family will gather on October 8, 2026, at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery where Tom will be buried, honoring his Navy service and overlooking one of his favorite fishing holes. 

His Celebration of Life on October 10, 2026 at 1pm will be a community gathering to share memories, and, of course, music. The Celebration of Life will be hosted at The Chapel (East Coast Church) at 85 Richland Avenue, Merritt Island.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Tunnel To Towers Foundation.