Real estate manager Marvin ‘Buddy’ Jacobs

MARVIN “BUDDY” JACOBS, a successful real estate manager and developer, who owned several shopping centers, office buildings, warehouses and the Best Western St. Charles Avenue Inn, succumbed to cancer after a lengthy battle on Thursday night at his home in New Orleans. Jacobs was 84.

A native of Nashville, Tenn., Jacobs moved to New Orleans in 1954, following his graduation from Peabody College. He managed the local chain of Royal Castle restaurants until they were sold in 1967. Jacobs then became involved in managing commercial real estate for himself and his clients.

Jacobs was very involved as the president of the boards of Touro Infirmary, Touro Synagogue, the Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana and the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans.

He was a former member of many boards, including those of the Greater New Orleans Chamber of Commerce, the Jewish Community Center, the Visiting Nurses Association, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the Hebrew Rest Cemetery Association, the National World War II Museum, the Touro Infirmary Foundation and the Patrick F. Taylor Foundation.

Jacobs was noted as a philanthropist and supporter of the arts in New Orleans, working with such organizations as the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra.

He is survived by his constant companion, Dorothy “Dotty” Jacobs, his son Andy Jacobs (Carmen); daughters Betsy Rubenstein (Randy Garland) of St. Louis, MO and Barbara Aland (Jack) of Birmingham, AL; sister Sylvia Shepard and brother Dr Kenneth Jacobs (Ellen), both of Nashville, TN; 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Services were held at Touro Synagogue, 4238 St. Charles Avenue, on Sunday, April 7, 2013 with visitation starting at 12:30 p.m. followed by a Memorial Service at 2:00 pm. Rabbi Alexis Berk officiated with burial immediately following in Hebrew Rest Cemetery #3. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Touro Synagogue, Touro Infirmary or the charity of your choice. Tharp-Sontheimer-Tharp Funeral Home is in charge of the funeral arrangements.