Tributes to Kerry Jacobs

• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/faam.12161
• Published date: 01 November 2018
• Date: 01 November 2018

DOI: 10.1111/faam.12161

TRIBUTES TO KERRY JACOBS

Kerry Jacobs was a passionate and serious scholar. His contribution to researchgoes well beyond the great, ground-

breaking papers he wrote. He was able to inspire, guide and set a wonderful examplefor many other scholars, acting as

a real catalyst for new developments in public sector accounting research. I will always remember when he wrote his

comments to my paper on a napkin. We were at a conference in Lisbon. Wewill greatly miss him.

Ileana Steccolini, Newcastle University in London

Indeed, this was a sad message. My colleagues and I have had so much cooperation with Kerry overthe last 10–15

years. As for myself,I met Kerry for the first time in Edinburgh in the mid-1990s. He was so friendly and communicative

in his approach both as scholar and as friend. We invited him to Norway to give lectures. However,due to his health

status, he was not able to travel.The last time I met with Kerry was in Lisbon at the EIASM conference. I am happy that

I had the opportunity to become friend with Kerry.I will never forget that.

Inger Johanne Pettersen, Trondheim

My abiding memory of Kerry is of a warm and generous hearted colleague, always in good form, always ready to

help out. He had an exuberantpersonality that will be sorely missed in the accounting community.

Ingrid Jeacle, Edinburgh

It was so good to see Kerry in so good shape in Lisbon. We also knew his wife, Sharon, from the time we were col-

leagues in Edinburgh. We all hoped at that time that his difficult health should be part of the past. Sadly, it was not to

be like that. I feel so sorry for Sharon and his family, who needed him so much. Life must eventuallygo on, and I will

remember Kerry as a very friendly,helpful and cheerful colleague. We will miss his good company.

Age Johnsen, Oslo

It is with deep sadness I heard that our good colleague and my friend KerryJacobs had passed away. I came to know

ofKerry on several conferences around Europe, Northern America and Australia and even visited him in Canberra. I will

remember Kerry for being a highly devotedand competent researcher, extremely friendly and helpful, and who had an

impressive knowledge on all sorts of academic issues and as someone that learned fast. I send his wife and children all

my best wishes.

Peter Skaerbek, Copenhagen

I was a colleague of Kerry's at the University of Edinburgh from 1997 to 1999, and I was always impressed by his

remarkable energy and enthusiasm. His passing is a great loss to the community.

Liisa Kurunmaki, LSE

We mourn the passing of Kerry Jacobs of the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Canberra Australia.He

was a leading researcher in public sector accounting and accountability with a high international reputation. We got to

know him in 1996, when we began working together in the European research project, “Accountingand Management

in the Reform of European Health Care System (ARHECAS).” A result of this joint work was an often cited paper “Cost

and performance information for doctors: an international comparison.” It is a case study of hospital sites in the United

Kingdom, Germany and Italy.

He was such a lively, open minded, friendly and welcoming teacher and participant in discussions. We remember

him juggling in the evening of a seminar. His interest was always directed on matters and on persons, and persons

meant: from soul to soul. This understanding of the humane without doubt inspired his understanding of institutions,

of management and accounting.

In 1998, one of us was invited to spend some time at the University of Edinburgh. Kerry Jacobs took him under

his wing in his uncomplicated and amiable way. Later Kerry spent a fellowship of two months at our institute in the

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2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/faam FinancialAcc & Man. 2018;34:314–316.