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Jacklyn “Jackie” Bezos, mother of Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos, died at the age of 78 in her residence in Miami. The news was confirmed this Thursday by the Bezos Family Foundation, which reported that Jackie passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loved ones.
The announcement was accompanied by an extensive tribute that described her as "the true meaning of determination, kindness, and service to others," values that, they highlight, she knew how to transmit to her family and close circle.You may be interested in: Jeff Bezos denies rumors about a multimillion-dollar wedding with Lauren Sánchez
Born on December 29, 1946, in Washington D.C., Jacklyn Gise Bezos lived a life marked by family commitment, self-improvement, and philanthropy. During her childhood, the family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico. There, in her adolescence, she had her first child, Jeffrey, at 17 years old. Shortly after, she married Ted Jorgensen, Jeff's biological father, from whom she divorced when Bezos was only 17 months old. Her life took a new turn when she met Miguel “Mike” Bezos, a Cuban immigrant whom she married in 1968. Mike adopted Jeff and together they raised their children Mark and Christina. Among her experiences as a mother, the family tribute highlights that Jackie “dedicated her life to her family and poured her heart into raising her children with compassion, patience and wisdom”. Jacklyn and Mike bet decisively on Amazon in 1995, investing about 250 thousand dollars to help their son launch what then seemed like a risky startup. "The sum they lent him was not only significant, it also posed an enormous risk at a time when the internet still generated skepticism," recalls a comment posted on the social media of the Bezos Scholars program. Time confirmed the family's audacity: Jeff Bezos is today one of the richest men in the world and Amazon reaches a valuation of more than two trillion dollars. The exact cause of death was not disclosed, although the family reported that Jackie had a diagnosis of Lewy body dementia since 2020. During the illness, Mike stayed by her side and the family thanked the healthcare team that cared for her in these years. In the statement, the foundation expresses: "a silent final chapter for a life that taught everyone, friends and family, the true meaning of determination, kindness, and service to others." Beyond her role as a mother and grandmother, Jackie Bezos was a fervent promoter of education. At 45, she resumed her studies and obtained her bachelor's degree with honors in Psychology from Saint Elizabeth University, New Jersey, "showing that it's never too late to pursue personal dreams." In the year 2000, she founded the Bezos Family Foundation with her family, an organization dedicated to promoting early learning and youth leadership through initiatives such as Vroom and the Bezos Scholars Program. His work benefited students in both the United States and Africa, and also boosted medical research and the advancement of immunotherapy treatments for cancer at the Fred Hutch Cancer Center in Seattle. The family highlighted Jackie's humility and warmth in opening the doors of her home to her children's friends, creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone. As a grandmother, she enjoyed organizing "Camp Marmie", an annual gathering with her eleven grandchildren to which she dedicated creativity to foster their curious spirit and problem-solving as a family. In the family statement, it reads: "Although Jackie is no longer with us, her love always remains, a bright light that will never go out. We will miss her much more than words can express."
