Dr. Laurence Stanley Jacobson died at the age of 85 on Aug. 30, 2022, in Kansas City, Missouri, surrounded by his family.
Born and raised in Kansas City, Larry was a well-loved and respected community member, periodontist, veteran, and supporter of the arts. He was a true gentleman who went through life in style. Larry was, above all, devoted to his wife Gretchen, his children, and his grandchildren.
A graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City and its School of Dentistry, Larry served in the United States Navy Dental Corps from 1961 to 1963. Larry held a private practice in periodontics for 54 years from 1965 to 2019, where he was beloved by his patients and staff. He was a dedicated teacher throughout his career and taught until August 2022 as a clinical professor, lecturer, and adjunct assistant professor of periodontics at the UMKC School of Dentistry. Larry served 30 years for the United States Public Health Service as a consultant in periodontics for the United States Federal Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas.
Throughout his career, Larry participated as president and as a member of a long list of professional organizations for periodontics and as a committed supporter of the Kansas City arts community, including the Municipal Art Commission and Harriman Jewell Series.
After he retired from his private practice in 2019, Larry continued to be a dedicated teacher, volunteer, and supporter of the arts. He served on the board of advisors on the Harriman-Jewell series to support arts in Kansas City. Throughout retirement, Larry continued to teach periodontics, served as a docent at the World War I Museum and Memorial, and administered vaccinations as an essential worker throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Gretchen Jacobson; his brother Alan Marshall (Joan Jacobson); his children, Douglas (Emily Jacobson), Ann (Steven Shure), and step-daughter Nicole Gresham (Stewart Honeyman); his grandchildren, Theodora, Harrison, Malcolm Shure, and Bliss Perry; and his niece, Elise, and nephew, Andrew. He is preceded in death by his parents Florence and Al Jacobson. Larry is also survived by his beloved dog, Chloe.
His funeral service was held at the Louis Memorial Chapel in Kansas City, Missouri, on Sept. 2, 2022. Interment was at Mt. Carmel Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Harriman-Jewell in Larry’s name. Online condolences may be left for the family at louismemorialchapel.com.
