- Date Of Birth: December 8, 1974
- Date Of Death: November 13, 2021
- State: New Mexico
Born on December 8, 1974, Jesse was the only child born to Dorothy Griego and Jesse Harps (dec.). He was raised by his lovely grandmother, Beatrice Anaya who preceded him in death. Harry Jesse Jacobus III, lovingly known as Jesse would grow to become a man of much valor and charm. He was brilliant, sarcastic, witty, and full of love for all who knew him. Irreverent, yet charming. Gregarious, yet contemplative. Stubborn, yet full of love. Jesse was a man who meant so much to so many – a loving husband, father of three, an only son, cousin, nephew, brother in arms, colleague, opposing counsel, and friend. Jesse passed away on November 13, 2021, at the age of 46 after a valiant battle with cancer.
Born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Jesse led a full life that saw no boundaries. Upon graduating from Rio Grande High School in 1993, Jesse joined the United States Marine Corps, where he completed boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot in California, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron Ordnance School in Tennessee, his first orders in Okinawa, Japan, and a three-year tour in Arizona, where he ended his enlistment in 1997.
No matter where life took him, New Mexico was always home. After his time in the Marine Corps, Jesse attended the University of New Mexico where he was a walk-on member of the UNM Varsity Football team. He graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in international business in 2000. He then set his sights on becoming a lawyer. In 2003, he attained his Juris Doctor from Chicago-Kent School of Law. Illinois was not only the breeding ground for his future successful legal career, but also the birthplace of the love story for his future marriage. In the words of his friend, while finishing law school “Jesse met the love of his life, Torri” and “found his life partner and somebody that was strong enough to keep him honest and love him the way he deserved to be loved.”
The couple married on May 6, 2005, and returned to New Mexico once again, where their legal careers and family would soon blossom. Jesse had an extensive and successful career as a civil litigation and employment attorney. Regarded as one of the best trial lawyers in the state, Jesse tried many cases to verdict in New Mexico state and federal courts.
Following law school, Jesse served as a judicial law clerk at the New Mexico Court of Appeals under the Honorable James J. Wechsler. Jesse then broke barriers by becoming the first African American shareholder at the Modrall Sperling Law Firm. Jesse went on to be a shareholder at multiple firms, finishing his distinguished career as a shareholder at Freedman Boyd Hollander Goldberg Urias & Ward, P.A.
An accomplished practitioner, Jesse was named as one of the Top 10 Personal Injury Attorneys Under Age 40 in New Mexico by the National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys, was recognized as a Southwest Rising Star by Southwest Super Lawyers® and a Future Star by Benchmark Litigation. Despite his “effective and aggressive litigation approach,” Jesse’s peers revered him, so much so that Jesse was awarded the “Excellent” rating through Avvo and the AV® rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest possible peer review rating.
Fluent in Spanish, Jesse was committed to his Black and Hispanic heritage and to his native New Mexico community. He was a member of both the Albuquerque Bar Association and Hispanic Bar Association; member of the New Mexico Black Lawyers Association, New Mexico Defense Lawyers’ Association, and New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association; and past board member and past board chairman for Planned Parenthood of New Mexico.
His love for practicing law was no match compared to his most important job as husband and father. Perhaps his greatest accomplishments were his three children – Alex (16), Sebastian (12), and Camille (10). A friend noted “We’d talk about how our kids have made us both smarter people and how our wives have made us better men.” Jesse celebrated his children’s achievements, participated in their favorite activities like karate, mock trial, and creating legendary costumes, and never shied away from sharing proud moments and stories about his children with friends and loved ones. He instilled values from his culture and experiences with his children, poured all of himself into them, and encouraged them to be their best and pursue their dreams.
Widely known for his wit, Jesse was notorious for making people laugh, whether in his written word or one-on-one conversations. Friends and colleagues adored him as one of the funniest and best writers ever, with some of his most memorable compositions punctuated with an occasional four-letter word. He liked fast cars, boats (despite living in the desert), and the Chicago Bears. He loved fiercely and considered his friends to be family. His dutiful service to his country, his tenacious and competitive spirit, his passionate love for his family, and his kind, gentle smile truly made him a remarkable BMF and a one-of-a-kind treasure.
Jesse was preceded in death by his daughter Jaeda Halle Brazfield Jacobus in 2001. Jesse is survived by his wife, Torri; children, Alex, Sebastian, and Camille; mother, Dorothy Griego; many cousins, nieces, and nephews, and numerous “brothers”, law partners, extended family, and friends.
