A Class of 2023 graduate of Livingston High School, Jacob had recently completed his freshman year at Northeastern University, where he was studying behavioral neuroscience and made the dean’s list.

“He wanted to help find cures, to understandAlzheimer’s and dementia,” said his mother, Deborah Davis. “He just wanted to help people. He would have changed the world.”

He was living in Chester Township with his mother and stepfather at the time of his death. He lived in the Fairways in Livingston from 2016 to 2023.

Jacob is survived by his mother, stepfather, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family and friends.

“His moral compass always pointed north,” his mother said. “He always tried to do the right thing. He had an infectious smile and laugh.”

Jacob also loved to travel. He had spent his first semester at college studying in Dublin, Ireland, and had planned to take a trip to Japan this summer. Last summer, he traveled to Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos. As part of that trip, he helped children study English and volunteered in an elephant sanctuary. Additionally, he worked with animal rescue groups in New Jersey.

Services were held on June 3 at the William J. Leber Funeral Home in Chester. The services may be viewed at youtube.com/ live/4bWupN5NgTg.

“At the memorial service, his friends said that everyone saw him as a best friend because he could be counted on,” his mother said.

In lieu of flowers, the family asked that memorial donations be made to either the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org); Mayo Clinic (philanthropy. mayoclinic.org/donateMC); or Eleventh Hour Rescue (ehrdogs. org/info/donate).