Ben Jacobs Obituary, Death – To all those involved in the Ipswich parkrun and the Suffolk parkrun
The core team must inform you of this news with profound shock and regret because there is no simple way to do it.
A tragic tragedy on Wednesday night while riding claimed the life of Ben Jacobs, a core team member of the Ipswich parkrun. We are beyond devastated and upset to have to inform all of our friends and coworkers within the Ipswich parkrun community, across parkrun in Suffolk, and beyond of this dreadful news.
He was a polite, considerate, gentlemanly man who loved his family. He gave everyone his time. He was committed, showing up at Chantry most weeks by 7:30 or 7.45 a.m. to assist with setup and frequently performing our required course safety check (which he’d done 91 times), before running another 5k lap at 9 a.m. He ran 324 parkruns since his first, which was on March 8, 2014, either with Fizz, his friends, by himself, or to assist his family.
At Kesgrave parkrun on August 11, 2018, he set a new personal best for the distance (17:46). He joined our core team in 2018 and quickly rose to the rank of Run Director. Over the course of nine years, he volunteered at 211 parkruns, including Ipswich juniors (while also supporting his kids). He was also a beloved member of the Felixstowe Road Runners, which frequently sends runners to our race. He frequently ran in the FRR’s recognizable red and white attire. Ben will be sorely missed, and right now, everything is still extremely fresh.
Ipswich parkrun will go on this Saturday, although it will be appropriately subdued given that Ben was a well-liked and respected member of this community. Just before nine in the morning, we hope you will join us for a minute of applause. We are all thinking of and praying for Ben’s family.
