Kareen "Kae" Morris Jacobs

Kareen “Kae” Morris Jacobs, 92, died peacefully in her sleep on September 25, 2024, in Hilton Head, South Carolina.  She was surrounded by family and friends during her final days.  Born on August 26, 1932, in Cleveland, Ohio, she was the daughter of Dr. William Ernst Morris and Mary Carstensen Morris.  Her beloved husband, Jay Winfield Jacobs, died in 1982. She is survived by her brother, William E. Morris, Jr.; four children, Valerie Horvat, Philip (Eliot) Jacobs, Patricia (Scott) Kolb, and Catherine Jacobs; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. 

Kae grew up in Cleveland, Ohio.  Her father was a die-hard Cleveland sports fan, and Kae in turn was a life-long lover of all sports, particularly the Cleveland Browns, Indians/Guardians, the Princeton Tigers, and Ohio State football.  Kae and her future husband Jay – who lived across the street from her in East Cleveland, Ohio – went to Shaw High School.  Kae graduated from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana.  She was a history major and a proud member of Delta Gamma.

Kae and Jay were married in 1954 soon after her graduation from DePauw.  The newlyweds moved to New York City where Kae worked to support the young family in a small apartment while Jay finished law school.  In the late 50’s, they moved to Bronxville, NY, and in 1961, they moved to Greenwich, CT.  She lived a busy and exciting life in Greenwich for 53 years and then 10 years at The Cypress in Hilton Head, South Carolina.

Until the death of her husband in 1982, Kae was a full-time mother and wife.  She was a devoted supporter of her children’s myriad activities. All four of her children and several of her grandchildren were competitive swimmers.  She spent countless hours in pools across the country, either in the stands or on the deck as a timer.  Several of those children and grandchildren turned to rowing in college and beyond.  She was a fixture at their regattas around the world.  She loved these sports, the athletes, and the racing. 

While in Greenwich and in Hilton Head, Kae was a leader in community organizations, including President of the Greenwich YWCA, president of PTAs in the Greenwich public schools, member of the Greenwich Junior Women’s Association, a Deacon and Elder at the First Presbyterian Church of Greenwich, Pool Committee Chair at the Greenwich Country Club, and a mentor / tutor for young students in Hilton Head.  She was a student and lover of classical music and was an avid supporter of the Cleveland Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, and the Hilton Head Symphony. 

Kae was intellectually curious throughout her life, particularly about other cultures.  After her husband’s death, she became a full-time travel agent.  In that role, she was able to travel extensively and visited all 7 continents. She was intrepid, traveling to Alaska with her daughters when she was 90.  She was particularly interested in Native American culture and arts.  As much as possible, she combined her travel with her loves of horses and dogs.  Dude ranches and Iditarod dog kennels were favorite stops for her.  While she often traveled with family and friends, she would sometimes travel on her own, including to Antarctica when she was 85. She also made it a point to take each of her grandchildren on separate trips, which are well-remembered by all of those family members. 

Kae had deep friendships in Greenwich and in Hilton Head.  She played bridge and mahjong regularly, and until her physical abilities became too limited, she played golf and bocce.  She enjoyed “having some skin in the game” and would often report back to her children with glee after a particularly good day where she won a $1.  Her favorite activities, including lunches and dinners throughout her week, were with close friends.  In her last 10 years, she loved the camaraderie and support of her dear friends at The Cypress.

Kae’s final months were challenging with complications from congestive heart failure.  She was supported in extraordinary ways throughout this period by her many friends in Hilton Head and Greenwich, the staff at The Cypress, the medical teams at Hilton Head Hospital, and the caregivers from Hospice of the Low Country. 

A memorial service will be held at a future date.  In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Kae’s name to charities that were deeply important to her, including The Salvation Army, the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, Planned Parenthood, and the Cypress Scholarship Program.