When Jacob Greenwald returned to school briefly in fall 2001, classmates at The Marin School gave him a standing ovation.
The reception was typical of the way the San Rafael teen inspired those around him. Greenwald, 19, died Monday at his home after a three-year battle with a rare form of cancer.
“He was so courageous through it all,” said Paul Simoes, who was Jacob’s social studies teacher and academic adviser at the small private school in Mill Valley. “He never whined. Here’s this kid battling for his life, literally.”
During Jacob’s illness, a huge support network formed that included many families from Brandeis Hillel Day School in San Rafael and Congregation Kol Shofar in Tiburon. Volunteers cooked meals, shopped and ran errands for the family.
“Anybody who heard, who even knew them slightly, wanted to help,” said Pam Morton, a family friend. “There were kids who never stopped seeing him.”
An outdoor enthusiast who enjoyed skiing and rock climbing, Jacob had a keen sense of humor and a quiet manner.
Shortly after he was diagnosed with cancer, his parents, Dr. Alan Greenwald and Ellen Blustein, set up an update line where friends could learn of Jacob’s condition and leave messages for the family.
Shortly after Jacob’s death, his father, an orthopedic surgeon, recorded an update with information about the funeral service for his son. “According to Jacob’s wishes,” Greenwald said, “it will be short because he hates services.”
Jacob was diagnosed with cancer in August 1999, just before his 16th birthday. Within a few months, he became too ill to attend school as he underwent chemotherapy, surgery and other treatment. Simoes said he would visit Jacob with school assignments and just to chat.
“He desperately missed” being at from school, his teacher said. But Jacob didn’t complain or dwell on his illness.
Simoes remembers once asking Jacob, “Really, are you OK?” The reply was: “It sucks pretty bad, but what are you going to do?”
Jacob was chosen Student of the Week by the Marin Independent Journal last January.
“He did quality work, even from home,” Simoes said.
Barbara Schakel, head of school, said Jacob “fought a very brave battle and all of us who had the opportunity and gift of knowing him are really going to be stronger.”
Jacob was a fan of war movies, military history and cable TV’s Comedy Central.
“He was very bright, very energetic,” said Carol van Wijnen, whose son, Josh Rudy, was a close friend of Jacob’s.
The two met at an Osher Marin Jewish Community Center summer camp just before starting kindergarten at Brandeis Hillel Day School. On the first day of class, van Wijnen recalls how her son was afraid to start school.
Jacob turned to his buddy from camp and said, “Hey, remember me? I’m Jake.” The two have been friends ever since.
Rudy described his friend as “the wisest 19-year-old I know. He had the ability to be completely comfortable with himself.”
Hundreds of people attended Tuesday’s service at Kol Shofar, where the family belongs.
In addition to his parents, Jacob is survived by his sister, Ariel, and his grandparents, Jeff and Eunice Blustein of Santa Rosa and Shirley and Saul Greenwald of Indiana, Pa.
Contributions in Jacob’s memory may be sent to the Pediatric Oncology Research Fund, c/o Katherine Matthay, UCSF, P.O. Box 0106, S.F., CA 94143, or Congregation Kol Shofar, 215 Blackfield Dr., Tiburon, CA 94920.