Word came early today that Allie Beth Allman & Associates executive vice president Jack Jacobs, adoring father and husband to luxury real estate powerhouse Doris Jacobs, father to their two beautiful powerhouse daughters, passed over the weekend. Jack, who passed away early Sunday morning, June 10, losing his four-year battle with pancreatic cancer.
“We cannot imagine a life without him, for he always lit up the room with his dashing looks and quick wit, and was completely devoted to his family,” said daughter Teffy Jacobs. “He will be missed and never replaced — he was truly one of a kind!”
Jack Jacobs, executive vice president and founding partner of Allie Beth Allman & Associates, was a longtime Dallas business leader who provided unfailing, loving support to wife, Doris, who is known as the Queen of Dallas real estate. I believe Doris Jacobs has sold more homes on Beverly Drive than any other agent in Dallas.
Raised in Boston, Massachusetts, Jack attended Southern Methodist University, where he studied accounting and also served in the United States Marine Reserves. He met his wife here and made Dallas his home.
To many Dallas natives, Jack is best known as the owner of the Melody Shops, a renowned music store throughout the Dallas area, which sold records, grand pianos, musical instruments and electronics equipment. He grew the business from its conception to nine locations throughout Dallas, including being one of the first stores at NorthPark Mall, along with Neiman Marcus and Richard Eiseman Jewels. During the 33 years he ran The Melody Shops, Jack became an icon on the local music scene.
By 1992, his wife, Doris, had carved a niche in the top tier of residential real estate sales and was so busy with clients, showings and open houses, she needed help from Jack. Jack closed the Melody Shops. He and Doris partnered with Allie Beth Allman in 2003 to form one of the city’s most productive luxury property firms, which now employs more than 300 agents and support staff. In 2015, Allie Beth Allman was bought by Berkshire Hathaway for an undisclosed price that is rumored to be in the $10 million range.
Though he was helping Doris during the second phase of their marriage, Jack brought a lot of business expertise to the real estate table. Hi accounting education, retail, finance, marketing and research experience provided astute business savvy to the family real estate business and pushed sales. Often Doris and Jack worked in tandem in prospecting and listing homes in the Park Cities, including Highland Park, University Park, and also Preston Hollow. But really, they sold all over Dallas including Turtle Creek, Uptown, the Dallas Arts District, Devonshire, Bluffview, Greenway Parks, Lakewood and North Dallas.
If you have seen the movie RBG, chronicling the life and achievements of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, you will learn about Ruth’s wonderful husband, Martin Ginsburg, or “Martie”, the love of her life who also adored and supported Ruth and helped her attain her many successful achievements. They met at Harvard Law School. It takes a very strong, secure man to not only watch his wife become more successful than him, but help her in the process. I honestly thought about Jack Jacobs when I saw RBG a few weeks ago, and I thought about Pierce Allman: Jack was Doris’ Marti.
I was fortunate enough to spend time with Doris and Jack on scouting trips to vacation home properties, which they also sold. One particular trip to the Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, is one of the most memorable because of Jack and Doris. I recall Jack patiently explaining Blackjack to me at the Greenbrier Casino — a gambler I am not. He was the most patient husband the world has ever known, contributing to his beautiful wife’s success without hesitation. His daughters and grandchildren adored him — I saw it. He was at home with celebrities such as Carlton Varney and politicians, but equally generous and at ease with everyone. Whenever someone was in need because of a tragic situation, Jack and Doris were both comfortingly there and available, as I learned a few years ago.
Jack and Doris reside in Highland Park. They have been 30-year members of Highland Park Presbyterian Church, where Jack was Captain of the ushers for 25 years, and both have been active supporters of the Highland Park Independent School District.
Jack Jacobs was the kind of man who simply made the world he lived in a better place, his family, his community, his country. His loss will be great for the real estate community and of course, for his adoring, close knit family. But his spirit will continue in his wife, the two beautiful daughters he raised, in his grandchildren, and the fond memories of a Dallas where life revolved around music, laughter, and meeting down at The Melody Shop.
