Even while working as a professor, dean and physician, Dr. Allen Jacobs followed his priorities, never forgetting his family.

Jacobs, dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine, died suddenly Sunday morning at age 59. No cause of death was known Sunday night, but natural causes are suspected.

The husband, father and grandfather had previously worked as a team physician for MSU’s baseball and women’s gymnastics teams, East Lansing High School and the Lansing Lugnuts.

He also had held administrative positions at other colleges around the country, but since coming to MSU in 1970, he remained green and white through and through.

At MSU, he worked as both a professor and dean and was acting dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine for two years before obtaining the position permanently in 1997.

Kristine Jacobs planned to celebrate her 30th wedding anniversary with Allen in January.

“He was this honest, fair, loving and passionate person,” she said. “He was passionate about everything, especially his family. He loved sports, he loved Michigan State.”

Kristine said she will never forget her husband’s honesty and compassion for others or his quick-witted sense of humor.

“He loved life and he lived it to the fullest,” she said. “He was such a generous person and loved everything he did, whether it was administration or teaching or taking care of his patients or being with his family.”

Allen had three children and two grandchildren.

“One of the things that gives me comfort was that in the past few weeks, we had made the circuit and we’d seen nearly everyone in the family that we were so close to, including his 1-month-old granddaughter,” Kristine said.

Colleen Kniffen, Allen’s assistant, said he was a family man.

“His family was his main hobby,” she said. “He loved being there, whether his kids were on the road with games or at home. Sports were his other love.”

Kniffen, who knew Jacobs for about four years, said she would greatly miss him.

“He was the kind of person that expected a lot of others while at the same time expecting a lot of himself,” she said.

Three things come to mind when Kniffen thinks about Jacobs.

“He always, always, always stressed, in every aspect, three priorities,” she said. “He was a stickler for attention to detail, customer service and communication.”

James Rechtien, acting chairperson of the Department of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, said Jacobs also will be remembered as a strong promoter of the college and the university.

“He was very successful in making the college look good,” he said. “That was one of his strong suits. The school will definitely miss him.”

No interim replacement for Jacobs has been chosen yet.

Gail Riegle, associate dean of academic programs at the College of Osteopathic Medicine, said Jacobs was clearly dedicated to his profession and lived for the interest of the college.

He said Jacobs was known as many things - a student supporter, friend, colleague and teacher.

“He’s always been an advocate of the profession and has always tried to put the best interest of the college forward,” Riegle said. “I don’t think there was anything more important in his life than what he was doing. He followed his dream.”

Staff writer Chad Previch contributed to this report.

Megan Frye can be reached at fryemega@msu.edu.