Norman Hazlett Jacobs

Norman H. Jacobs, 96, of Natrona Heights, passed away Wednesday, May 17, 2023, while in the loving care of family members and attentive staff at Sunrise, McCandless.  Norman was a lifelong resident of Natrona Heights.  He was born March 21, 1927, in Allegheny Valley Hospital, to the late Norman G. and Helen Hazlett Jacobs.  He graduated from Har-Brack High School in 1945, served in the U.S. Navy until late 1946, graduated from Grove City College in 1950 with a degree in History, and from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law with a J.D. in 1953, whereupon he joined his grandfather, Samuel M. Hazlett, and uncle, Howard J. Hazlett, and their colleagues in the law firm of Hazlett, Gannon & Jacobs, where he practiced law into his early nineties. 

In 1951, he married the late Joan Schmitt, whom he had known since 1st Grade, and to whom he was devoted and happily married for 60 years, until her passing in 2011.  In his legal practice, among other work, he represented the Highlands School District for many years, including during the construction of the Senior High School, the Peoples Federal Savings and Loan Association, Harmarville Rehabilitation Center, and the Fawn-Frazer Joint Water Authority, which he helped incorporate over fifty years ago, in 1967, and reincorporated 50-years later in 2017. 

In his youth, Mr. Jacobs attended Central Presbyterian Church in Tarentum with his sister, parents, grandparents, and aunts, uncles, and cousins.  Upon marrying Joan in 1951, he joined her church, the Natrona Heights Presbyterian Church, where he served on the session, and as a trustee, and taught adult Sunday school classes.  In his last years, Mr. Jacobs attended events at the First Presbyterian Church of Tarentum.  Through most of his adult life, Mr. Jacobs was an active member of the Y’s Men at the local YMCA, where he enjoyed their evening meals, presentations, and athletic games and participating in their community projects; he was also a Mason and active in the meetings and work of the Pollock Lodge No. 502.  Mr. Jacobs loved reading, collecting books, and stopping by the Community Library of Allegheny Valley.  He also loved meeting with friends at local restaurants to discuss the people and history of the Alle-Kiski Valley, as well as myriad other subjects.  Mr. Jacobs spent a portion of every summer of his life with his family at Chautauqua Lake, NY, where he had several life-long friends and many acquaintances.  In his last decade, he enjoyed the companionship of many local friends and met with friends on almost a daily basis at either Massart’s Restaurant in Tarentum or Eat’n Park in the Heights. 

Norman is survived by his three sons, William N. Jacobs, of Miami, Fla., Kurt H. (Brian) Jacobs, of Washington, D.C., and Mark R. (Cathy) Jacobs, of Gibsonia; grandchildren, Molly (Ray) Moody, Ryan Jacobs, Jordan Jacobs, Hailey Jacobs, and Emily Jacobs; great-grandchildren, Travis and Brennan Moody, and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.  He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Joan in 2011; his parents, Norman G. and Helen Hazlett Jacobs; and his sister, Mary Helen Talbot. 

Friends of Norman and his family are invited to a memorial service and celebration of his life on Saturday, June 17, at 11 a.m. at the First United Presbyterian Church of Tarentum, 913 Lock St., Tarentum, PA, and to a reception afterwards from 12:30 to 3:00 pm at the Bloser Mansion, 479 6th Ave., New Kensington, PA 15068.  In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made to the Community Library of Allegheny Valley, 1522 Broadview Blvd., Natrona Heights, PA 15065, https://www.alleghenyvalleylibrary.org/memorials/; the Allegheny Valley YMCA, 5021 Freeport Rd., Natrona Heights, PA 15065; https://vpfymca.org/get-involved/donate/; or Pollock Lodge No. 502, P.O. Box 512, Natrona Heights, PA 15065, https://plyons72.wixsite.com/pollock502.  Arrangements are under the direction of the ROBERT PETERS FAMILY FUNERAL HOMES INC., 1521 Freeport Road, Natrona Heights, PA 15065.  Online condolences may be made at www.petersfamilyfuneralhomes.com.

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