Joseph J. Jacobs, the 88-year-old founder and current chairman of Jacobs Engineering Group Inc., died Oct. 23. He founded the Pasadena, Califl.-based global engineering and construction company in 1947. It now ranks 12th on the ENR Top 400 Contractors list for 2004, with $2.27 billion in revenue and more than 35,000 employees. Jacobs, born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., of Lebanese descent, and once worked for pharmaceutical maker Merck &Co., now a key client to the company. He earned three chemical engineering degrees from Polytechnic University in New York City, of which he was twice chairman of its board of trustees.

Jacobs was also active in community and humanitarian activities, including establishment of the Jacobs Family Foundation that supported local youth at risk and economic development. He was also chairman of the board of trustees of Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, Calif., where his contributions funded the Jacobs Science Center.

Jacobs' funeral is set for Oct. 29 at All-Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena at 10 AM.