Esther Jacobs, 88, of Oak Bluffs, died May 1 following a wonderful, full life and a brief illness. Born on Jan. 16, 1915, an identical twin in New York city, to Romanian parents Malvina (Rabinowitz) Scherzer and Jacob Scherzer, Esther grew up and spent most of her adult life in New York, where she worked as an elementary school teacher. She received a degree in biology from Hunter College and then married the most handsome man she ever met, Irwin Jacobs, on Dec. 25, 1937. She and Irwin went on to raise two sons, Michael, of Vineyard Haven, and David, of New York city. The children remained a source of pride and joy to Esther and Irwin all their lives.

Along with her family, Esther's sustaining force was her identical twin sister, Minna. Esther and Minna always lived within throwing distance of one another. Each said the other was the oldest, although Esther conceded Minna was the more intelligent, while she was the more beautiful.

Esther lost both Irwin and Minna within months of one another in 1999, and moved from her retirement home in Hallandale, Fla., to Windemere's assisted living unit in January of 2000. There she offered hugs and love on her daily walks throughout the facility. Esther could often be seen on the back of a Honda Goldwing motorcycle, calmly holding onto her son, Michael, as they traveled down the streets of Vineyard Haven on their way to his office, where she volunteered on Tuesdays.

Esther will be deeply missed by her children, her grandchildren, Dylan Jacobs of Boston and Danielle Jacobs of Vineyard Haven, and by Minna's children, Mark Halperin of Ellensburg, Wash., and Diane Sullivan of New city, as well as all who knew her.