Julian Richard Jacobs died peacefully on August 16 with his family by his side. He was 91.

He was one of 16 children born to Joseph Jacobs and Alice Lafoley Jacobs of Hudson. In 1941 he was inducted into the Hudson High School Athletic Hall of Fame for football.

He served in the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division of the United States Army. He was one of six brothers who saw service in World War II, all of whom made it home safely. The Archdiocese of Boston awarded Alice Jacobs the Testimonial of Merit for the most members of one family to serve in the war.

Julian was a decorated veteran who was awarded the Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts and numerous other medals during the vicious Italian campaign.

He attended the First American University in Florence, Italy in 1945 and was fluent in Italian. He was the vice president of his fraternity Phi Sigma Kappa and graduated from Boston University School of Business.

He was recruited by the Goodyear Rubber Company of Akron, Ohio. He later moved to Branford, Conn. to accept a position in engineering and design at the Armstrong Rubber Company in New Haven. He met his wife Veronica Jacobs at the New Haven Ski Club, and they married and raised five children in Clinton, Conn.

Julian was instrumental in affecting legislation for the handicapped at both the state and federal level. He was a devoted Catholic, an active member of the St. Mary’s Church in Clinton, Conn., and a lifelong member of the Brotherly fraternal order of the Elks, the 34th infantry division tri-state chapter, AARP and the French Canadian Genealogical society.

He loved crossword puzzles, history and watching the Red Sox. Genealogy became a consuming interest later in life, and he volunteered his time to assist senior citizens with tax matters. His son Chris liked to refer to him as “the lean mean elderly machine.” He was a talented gardener and loved bird watching, and spent many hours in his “back forty” creating an oasis, building stone walls and tending his gardens among the rocks and streams at his home.

He is survived by his wife Veronica Jacobs; his children Gregory Jacobs of Oak Bluffs, Jennifer Marie Carter of Petaluma, Calif., Christopher Jacobs of Meriden, Conn. and Julie Sierputoski of West Tisbury; and 10 grandchildren. He also leaves behind a great many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his daughter Michelle Anne Marie Jacobs.

A funeral Mass was held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Clinton, Conn. on August 22.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Westbrook Elks Lodge, 142 Seaside Ave., Westbrook, CT, 06498 or Easter Seals Camp Hemlocks, 85 Jones St., Hebron, CT, 06248