Jacklyn Bezos, Philanthropist and Mother of Jeff Bezos, Dies at 78
The Amazon founder paid tribute to his mother's 'ferocity' of love and lifelong dedication to her family and philanthropy after her battle with Lewy body dementia.
Jacklyn “Jackie” Gise Bezos, a dedicated philanthropist and the mother of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, passed away on Thursday at the age of 78. Her death followed a long and courageous battle with Lewy body dementia, a progressive brain disorder.
The news was shared by her son in a heartfelt tribute posted to his social media accounts, where he celebrated her life and the profound impact she had on her family.
“My mom, Jacklyn Gise Bezos, passed away,” he wrote. “We were all so lucky to be in her life.”
A Mother’s Ferocious Love
In his moving post, Jeff Bezos, 61, reflected on his mother’s journey, which began with motherhood at the young age of 17. He acknowledged the immense challenges she faced as a teenage mom, praising her resilience and unwavering dedication.
“That couldn’t have been easy, but she made it all work,” the billionaire wrote. “She pounced on the job of loving me with ferocity, brought my amazing dad [Mike Bezos] onto the team a few years later, and then added my sister and brother to her list of people to love, guard, and nourish.”
He emphasized that her capacity for love was boundless, writing that “for the rest of her life, that list of people to love never stopped growing.”
According to the Amazon executive chairman, his mother passed away peacefully in her Miami home, surrounded by her loved ones. He shared that he and his family were with her in her final moments.
“I know she felt our love in those final moments,” he wrote. “We were all so lucky to be in her life. I hold her safe in my heart forever. I love you, mom.”
Jacklyn Bezos is survived by her husband Mike Bezos, her three children—Jeff, Christina, and Mark—as well as 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
A Legacy Beyond Family: A Passion for Education
While she was a devoted matriarch, Jacklyn Bezos’s impact extended far beyond her immediate family. She was a passionate advocate for education and a driving force behind her family’s philanthropic endeavors.
In 2000, she co-founded the Bezos Family Foundation alongside her husband and their children. The foundation is dedicated to advancing education and improving life outcomes for children from an early age.
An obituary posted on the website for the Bezos Scholars Program, an initiative she helped champion, highlighted her identity as a once-single mother who was deeply committed to nurturing the minds of young people in the United States and Africa. The obituary shared a powerful quote that encapsulated her vision:
“Together, we can change the trajectory of an entire generation. We are not just building brains—we are building the future. Each of us has a role to play, and it will take all of us to really make a difference.”
The tribute eloquently captured the light she brought to her work and to the lives of those around her.
“Although Jackie may be gone from our sight, her love remains with us always—a bright shining light that will never fade,” the obituary reads. “She will be missed beyond words.”
Understanding Lewy Body Dementia
Jacklyn Bezos’s passing also shines a light on Lewy body dementia (LBD), the condition she battled. According to authoritative health organizations like the National Institute on Aging, LBD is the third most common cause of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. It is caused by the abnormal buildup of protein deposits, called Lewy bodies, in brain cells. These deposits affect brain chemistry and can lead to problems with thinking, movement, behavior, and mood.
By sharing the cause of her death, the Bezos family brings greater awareness to a challenging neurodegenerative disease that affects millions of families worldwide.
