Milton C. Van Meter, DDS
Pinellas Park, Fla.
Paul Jacobi was my friend and my mentor. We all have professional friends, but he was more than that. I had known him personally for only eight years, but he was like the new big brother I never had. I first heard of him some 38 years ago as a young dental graduate. His book, "The Dentist`s Flight Manual to Success," was my first introduction to dental practice management. Through his writings and lectures, Paul has probably touched hundreds, if not thousands, of us over the years. When he retired at 60 and he and Pat moved here to Florida`s "Sun Coast," I was privileged to know him and get to be friends in his new life as a practice-management consultant, real estate/practice broker, guardian advocate, and multi-level marketing associate.
Pat and Paul were on EgyptAir Flight 990 to visit the pyramids for his 72nd birthday. International tragedies never seem to hit you until you know one of the victims personally. It took a couple of days to sink in that my friends were truly gone. Paul didn`t have to work so hard and be so involved in all those activities he took on after "retirement," but he just loved to be involved with people and to help them. He never took himself very seriously, and that`s what made him so endearing.
Paul, I`ll miss those weekly faxed jokes and I`ll never forget you. You helped me so much along life`s way. May your "Dentist`s Flight Manual for Success" become this dentist`s flight manual to heaven.
Editor`s Note: If anyone would like to share memories of Paul Jacobi, please contact Dr. Van Meter at miltvanmeter@ mindspring.com. He will forward them to Paul`s son, Fritz, who lives in Fort Myers, Fla.
