June 3, 1999
Saturday memorial service scheduled for Neil Jacobson, UW psychology professor
A memorial service for Neil Jacobson, University of Washington psychology professor, will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday in the Ballroom at the Edmond Meany Hotel, 4507 Brooklyn Ave. NE in the University District.
Jacobson, 50, died Tuesday of an apparent heart attack in Las Vegas where he was scheduled to participate in a workshop on domestic violence.
Jacobson was a prominent and wide-ranging researcher whose interests included depression, domestic violence and the efficacy of marital therapy.
He also was the co-developer of a new approach to marital therapy called acceptance or integrative couples therapy, along with UCLA psychologist Andrew Christensen. In pilot studies, acceptance therapy was significantly more effective than standard treatment where partners often strive to change each other.
He and UW colleague John Gottman did pioneering research into domestic violence and in 1998 co-authored the book “When Men Batter Women.” As a result of his domestic violence research, Jacobson became an advocate for court ordered treatment for men convicted of battering and for stringent testing to make sure treatment programs actually work to end domestic violence. In addition, he spoke at and participated in domestic violence workshops and conferences across the country.
Jacobson was born in Milwaukee and earned his Ph.D. in psychology from the University of North Carolina in 1977. He taught for two years at the University of Iowa before joining the UW psychology department in 1979.
He is survived by his wife, Virginia Rutter, and three children, Matthew, 18, Emily, 15, and Jesse, 9.
A memorial fund honoring Jacobson is being established and the proceeds will be directed to battered women’s shelters. Contributions may be sent to: Neil Jacobson Memorial Fund, c/o Seattle Foundation, 425 Pike Street, Suite 510, Seattle, WA 98101.
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