Our mother’s mission: Make the world ‘a better and happier place’

There is a painting that hangs over the place where our mother would prepare for the coming day. In it, two small, sweet birds face each other as they too begin their day…

”This is what we will do – we will go and put good things into the world, and the trees and the flowers and the sky will be so happy”

She arrived in Florida as a young woman, married and drawn to Florida’s natural beauty – stunned that crystal-clear water could bubble up from the ground and create such “majesty” as she called it. She would go on to spend much of her career fighting to protect that water.

But our mom arrived in less-than-ideal circumstances, and soon found herself being rescued by the loving arms of likeminded people who also wanted to do good in the world. And that is how she found “Women In Distress” and how they found her.

Her life was not easy. As a result of a spinal condition, as a young girl she spent a year in a body cast, ended up in an abusive marriage and to escape that, found herself living in poverty. But you wouldn’t know that if you met her.

She was always wanting to help others, to make the world a better and happier place – and she succeeded. From a humble and difficult beginning, her journey took her from being a neighborhood activist and self-described, “mom on a mission” to the twice-elected Mayor of Florida’s second largest county to eventually serving not once, but twice, on a Presidential task force – even serving once as Chair.

Hers is a story of strength, determination and grit always seeking to put good things into the world. Her public service journey eventually led to the Florida House of Representatives where she gained a well-earned reputation for putting the needs of the state ahead of her own and in finding ways to work successfully across party boundaries.

Perhaps one of our mother’s proudest accomplishments as a public steward was working with a small group of leaders to create the Southeast Florida Climate Compact (now in its 11th year) and hailed by President Obama as an international model of cooperation. But to hear her tell it, it was at once about protecting an area of the state she loved dearly, but also about helping people and bringing communities together.

Kristin Jacobs was a public servant who put others first, brought people together for a common cause and who set aside political, partisan, regional and personality differences to go out and put good things into the world. That is her legacy.

Kristin Diane was only 60 years old. An avid camper, hiker, cyclist and outdoor enthusiast who fought valiantly and optimistically against a cancer that ultimately took her life. She is survived by us, her loving children; Richard Hames, Lauren Donaldson and Mitchell Jacobs (and his “girlfriend extraordinaire”, Kate Slavensky), and by son-in-law, Chris Donaldson, three perfect grandchildren (Tyler, Mirabelle and Kelsey) as well as Stu Jacobs, our loving dad, her former husband, myriad friends and her beloved Steven Vancore.

The little bird who spread so many good things across our world, is no longer with us. But she has left the campsite better – much better – than she found it.

All who have known her will remember her fondly. We miss you already mom.

SUN SENTINEL “Hers is a story of strength, determination and grit, and always seeking to put good things into the world,” write Kristin Jacob’s three children in remembering their late mother.