Cape Cod, sports and newspapers

Photo: Sharon Bouchard

Joanie Jacobs

OTISFIELD – Hoping to become a sports writer had Joanie “Perry” Jacobs pursuing a career in newspapers, but she soon found out that the world wasn’t ready for a female sports writer.  However, being a lifelong fan of New England sport teams keep her thoughts in that direction.

Q:  Where were you born and where were you brought up?

 A:  I was born in Falmouth Hospital, Falmouth, Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Q:  Do you have many siblings?

 A:  Yup.  Six.  I’m the youngest of the oldest four or the oldest of the younger four.

Q:  What did your parents do?

 A:  My parents owned dry cleaning stores on the Cape.  Dad ran the back and mom the front as well as bookkeeping.  All of us youngest four helped out in the stores.  I learned a lot about sewing.  Many times when there were quick sewing tasks that needed to be done, they were handed to me.

Q:  What was it like growing up?

 A:  Awesome!  There was always someone to play with or fight with.  With that many kids we were never bored.  We spent our spring, summer and fall playing outside.  On the beach, which was a five-minute walk in the summer and in the fields surrounding our home spring and fall.  May father had many brothers and sisters so we had lots of cousins to add into the mix.

Q:  Was there anything you wanted to be when you grew up?

 A:  A sports writer for the Boston Globe.  When I started in the news writing business after college I quickly learned, at that time, women were not welcomed in the sports world yet.  So I moved into writing local news.

Q:  What have you had for jobs?

 A:  Too many to list.  As well as the dry cleaners I worked at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute.  Working there I was able to take college computer courses while in high school. 

After college I worked in grocery store delis.  Those were fun.  Then I got my break when I was hired by a small newspaper to write.  I got hired by a weekly newspaper that was run and staffed by women.  That was my big break. 

I was hired away from that paper by a newspaper that brought me back to Cape Cod.  The Advertiser-Democrat offered me a job that led me to move to Maine. 

Now I work at 92.7 and 100.7 WOXO.  I’m now in my radio job as well as my writing career by my maiden name – Joanie Perry.  I sell advertising, which once again uses my writing skills.  I also voice ads and news.

Q:  When and how did you meet your spouse?

 A:  That’s a funny story.  I was working for the Advertiser-Democrat and he was working for the Sun Journal.  We were both taking notes at an Otisfield Board of Selectmen meeting.  He sat near me and helped my figure out some of the board lingo. 

He kept sweeping my long hair off my fact to talk to me.  I thought that was a riot.  He had to leave the meeting early to make deadline.  He left a note under my car windshield wiper with his phone number.  I still have it.

Q:  Do you have any children?

 A:  Two, Jillian and Jared.  Jillian is a freshman at Colby-Sawyer in New Hampshire on the Dean’s list, studying business.  Jared is a junior at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School also an honor student.

Q:  What is the last book you read?

 A:  Crooked House by Agatha Christie.  She is my favorite author.

Q:  Any heroes?

 A:  Joe Montana #16 of the San Francisco 49ers (I’m in denial about any time he spent with another team), Bib Papi of the Red Sox…Don’t get me wrong here though.  I’m a huge fan of the Boston teams, Patriots, Celtics, Bruins, Red Sox.  Yup, still a huge sports fan. 

I love Pro Sports, baseball, football, hockey, basketball and NASCAR Racing.  New England is a great place to live as a pro sports fan because we have won all of the big championships, all of them, in less than 10 years. 

I don’t think there is another area that can compete with that.  Plus, I can watch sports while reading.  I keep the TV volume down and look up when the crowd gets loud.

Q:  What is the one thing you would not give up?

 A:  Having my children.  For a long time I believed I never wanted kids.  It was weird because kids loved me.  When my sister had her first child I spent a lot of time with him.  Co-workers would bring their kids to work and they would all find me.  I think they liked that I spoke to them like adults not like children.  I was in my 30s when I had my first child.

Q:  What was the best memory this interview brought back?

 A:  Meeting my husband, Jeff.

Q:  If anyone could walk in right now, whom would you most like to see?

 A:  Agatha Christie.