By:Joseph Kellard
Crash victim feared leaving children fatherless like he was
Glenn Jacofsky was 10 years old when his father, David, died.
When Glenn was killed by a motorist drag racing down Lawson Boulevard, minutes from his home in Oceanside two Sunday afternoons ago, his son, Michael, was 9.
"One of Glenn's worst nightmares was that his children would grow up without a father like he did, and his son is just about 10 years old now," said his brother, Bernie Jacofsky.
Glenn, 43, and his wife, Amy, 41, were on their way to celebrate their nephew Matt's 26 birthday when Michael Vasapolli, 30, of North Woodmere crashed his silver Lamborghini head on into Jacofsky's black, 2000 Volvo, killing himself and Glenn instantly. Their wives and Kevin Hart, the driver of the Corvette that Vasapolli was racing against, were treated for minor injuries at a neighboring hospital.
"I will remember him as a very caring, loving brother," said Bernie, who is 10 years Glenn's senior.
Glenn, Bernie and their eldest brother, Harry, lived in Lynbrook with their parents David and Ruth Jacofsky before moving to Oceanside in Glenn's elementary-school years. Their father owned a car dealership and their mother worked at home until her husband died in 1968. She then became a bookkeeper/sales associate for Fortunoff's department store.
Seven years later, Glenn graduated from Oceanside High School. After attending Hofstra and Adelphi universities, he worked in real estate as a managing director for Bill Modell and later as a senior vice president for Lazard Freres, a real estate developer.
He met Amy and they married October 11, 1981. The couple had two children, Michelle, 13, and Michael.
A little over three years ago, brother Harry died and Glenn took over as CEO of the telecommunication's company, DJJ Technologies in Islandia, that his brother owned. But he took over for Harry in far more ways than that.
"Glenn was a rock for Harry's children after he died," Bernie said. "He was a very competent, capable and loving person. An absolutely adoring husband and father. His family and business were the most important parts of his life. He was a highly intelligent, astute businessman and meticulous worker. He had a phenomenal sense of humor and sophisticated wit, and was a tremendous problem-solver. Also, he's very centered, focused and analytical. Glenn was the rock of the family. Everyone went to Glenn."
The Jacofsky brothers often played golf together, and Glenn also enjoyed playing tennis, a sport he picked up while in high school.
Table tennis, his brother said, was another sport Glenn played. In his position at DJJ Technologies, Glenn had Ping-Pong tables set up in the company and organized tournaments, which became very involved and morale-boosting for employees, Bernie recalled.
Glenn was also an avid reader, mostly of history-based fiction, Bernie remembered.
Glenn's funeral service was held at Boulevard-Riverside Chapels in Hewlett Tuesday, June 26, and his brother estimated that more than 400 people attended. "There was a tremendous outpouring of support," Bernie said.
Glenn Jacofsky was buried at New Montefiore Cemetery in West Babylon.
