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Celebrating the life of
Elizabeth Maria Jacobi, PhD
October 01, 1941 - July 24, 2024
Elizabeth Maria Jacobi, PhD, passed away peacefully Wednesday, July 24, 2024, at the age of 82.
Elizabeth had a passion for music, a dedication to healing, an unbending commitment to wellness in humanity and a strong faith. She was known for her generosity towards the church, seminarians, and anyone in need.
Elizabeth combined her passion for music and deep caring for people to become the founder and director of the Music Medicine Institute in Savannah. The MMI is a non-profit corporation for education, treatment and research in the interface between music and medicine. With Elizabeth’s direction, the MMI forged an affiliation with St. Joseph’s /Candler Hospital; offering inpatient and outpatient music therapy programs. Furthermore, Elizabeth formed an alliance with Hunter Army Airfield and Fort Stewart providing music therapy to help relieve the stress that is endured by a child or family member when a parent or loved one is deployed.
Early in her career Elizabeth performed professionally on concert stages in United Stated and Europe. She served as Cultural Delegate to the People’s Republic of China. She taught music in the New York City school system, served as director of Project Head Start in New York, and had been a consultant and international lecturer.
She held a BS in Music Education and Voice Performance from St. Mary of the Woods College (IN): a Master of Music and Voice Performance from Rosary College in Florence, Italy: Music Therapy Certification from Montclair State University (NJ); and did work in guided imagery and music at Temple University (PA).
Her clinical training in behavioral medicine was completed at Harvard Medical School with Dr. Herbert Benson, well known for his relaxation response methods. Her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology was from the Union Institute in Cincinnati, where her research in the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music in the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis resulted in observations of significant changes in physical measures and the subjective experience of pain and psychological stress. The study was completed in the Department of Pastoral Care and Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine at Lutheran General Hospital and was published with co-author Gerald Eisenbeerg, M.D.
By continuing to research all aspects of music as therapy, as well as by forming coalitions with other health professionals, Elizabeth and her music therapy colleagues helped to bridge the gap between traditional and contemporary, medical approaches which the Music Medicine Institute continues today.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on August 2nd at 11:00 a.m. at St. James the Less Catholic Church in Savannah, GA. Interment will be in Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside, IL.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to St. James the Less Catholic Church
8412 Whitefield Ave., Savannah, GA 31406
A candle has been lit!
I am so sad and truly heartbroken to hear of the passing of Ms. Jacobi. I had the privilege of providing care for Ms. Jacobi at one point in the past, but I took a special interest in getting to know her by listening to her stories and experiences of her life. She was such a remarkable individual, and was a truly versatile and intellectually gifted person. I always admired her insatiable curiosity and passion for learning about various and diverse subjects/topics, just out of her genuine interest for knowledge. She was such an invaluable source of wisdom for me, and was always such good company. My 3 year old, Forrest, would visit Ms. Jacobi with me most of the time, as they both always enjoyed each other. He would always walk up to her with his fist out, and say "knuckles," to give her a fist bump; She always was so tickled by that. Forrest and I are so fortunate to have gotten to know Ms. Elizabeth Jacobi; I will always cherish the memories we have, and will find peace in knowing that her impact on inspiring my life will live on. With my deepest and heartfelt condolences, Kayli Nicole Smith (& Forrest Thomas Howard)
- Kayli Nicole Smith & Forrest Thomas Howard, Savannah, GA
My condolences to Ms. Jacobi’s family. My prayers are with you all.
- Kenesha Varner , Savannah , Ga
I first met Elizabeth in 1988, when we studied with the same NYC vocal coach. We remained friends for years, though I had not seen her since 2009. Elizabeth had a gorgeous operatically-trained soprano voice. Her singing of songs by Richard Strauss and Johannes Brahms moved me deeply. Her parents came from Germany, so she was fully bilingual. She was a very good older sister to her brother Bernard, who predeceased her. Elizabeth had a deep Christian faith, and she lived to help others, especially with music. Rest in peace, my dear friend.
- Signe Myhren, Lafayette, CO
Services under the direction of:
Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel
912-352-7200
- Memorial Mass
- 11:00 a.m. on Fri, August 02, 2024
- St. James the Less Catholic Church
-
8412 Whitefield Avenue (map)
Savannah GA 31406