It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Gretchen A. Jacobson, a dear friend, colleague, and former Managing Editor-in-Chief of Materials Performance (MP) magazine. Both MP and CoatingsPro Magazine are member magazines and sister publications within the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP).

Dating back to the last century, Gretchen provided 25 years of dedicated service to MP. Although she formally retired in 2022, she continued to provide assistance to MP until early 2024. 

Gretchen graduated from San Diego State University in 1981 and worked in various publishing roles prior to joining NACE International (now AMPP) in 1997. She experienced many changes throughout her career, not only in corrosion engineering but in the evolution of publishing, as well. 

Over her many years of distinguished service, Gretchen’s journey evolved from creating magazine negatives and mailing them to the printer to submitting files electronically. While the print edition remains essential to many, she played a key role in making MP accessible online, including its archive of past issues.

Throughout the decades of her excellent work at AMPP, she enjoyed interacting with members, board members, and the Publications Committee. She viewed many as friends, first, before considering any work implications. She also developed strong friendships with many of her AMPP colleagues, who will greatly miss her expertise, leadership, and warm presence.

A former T.J. Hull Award winner — an award given for outstanding contribution to publications — relayed a memory of Gretchen while giving his acceptance speech. He recalls:

“When I mentioned Gretchen’s name in the speech, the spontaneous applause from the audience was stunning. I, and many others, realized the very high regard in which she is held by the membership. An officer came up to me after the dinner and said, ‘You’d think she won the award instead of you.’ I replied, ‘She deserved it more than me, but the staff is not eligible for these awards.’” 

Gretchen is survived by her husband Gary, two daughters, and six grandchildren.

For more information, contact: Materials Performance, www.materialsperformance.com