Gerson A. Jacobson, M.D., a nationally prominent pulmonary disease and chest physician, and a highly decorated veteran of World War II, died Wednesday, April 4, 2007, in St. Louis, after a long illness. He was 81 years old, and had resided in St. Louis for the past five years.

Dr. Jacobson was born Sept. 2, 1925, to Charles and Minnie Jacobson in Norwich, Conn. He graduated from the Norwich Free Academy and the University of Connecticut. He received a master’s degree from the University of Michigan and a doctor of medicine degree from New York University in 1954.

Dr. Jacobson completed a residency in internal medicine, and was chief of the Department of Pulmonary Diseases at the University of California-Harbor General Hospital.

He was a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and the American College of Chest Physicians. Dr. Jacobson served as president of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Society of Internal Medicine and as president of the California Society of Internal Medicine.

Dr. Jacobson served in the U.S. Army during World War II, in the Ninety-Second Chemical Mortar Batallion; he fought in five campaigns in the European Theatre and was twice awarded the Purple Heart.

He is survived by his wife, Teresa Jacobson; son, Jordan H. Jacobson; daughter Cory Giacobbe and son-in-law Nicholas J. Giacobe; daughter, Gianna Jacobson and her husband Todd Siwak, and grandchildren Maya Giacobbe and Abby, Jake and Lily Siwak. He is also survived by his brother, Sheldon Jacobson and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sister, Gloria Machenberg.

The family expressed special thanks to their caregivers during Dr. Jacobson’s illness.

Funeral services were held at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery on Friday, April 6. Memorial contributions may be sent to The Norwich Free Aacademy Foundation, 305 Broadway, Norwich CT 06360.