My sister-in-law Candis told the most wonderful stories about her life. If she had written her autobiography, I would have been first in line to buy it.

So many stories: While a young girl Candis lived in South Africa with her diplomatic parents and attended an Episcopal girl’s school. I can see her now in her neatly tailored uniform and knee socks. Later as a young woman she and her family lived in Italy, which Candis loved so much. One of the many stories she told was coming home late from partying, in her little sports car, she arrived at home which was a gated community where diplomats lived. As the guard was raising the entrance bar shots rang out around Candis. She went home and never told her parents about the incident. She told stories about her girlfriends being let loose in Italy, including the time she and her friends invaded a local eatery and badgered the chef into giving them the recipes for their favorite foods. Saying ‘no’ to Candis was a non-starter.

Before and after Candis married Morris ‘Bud’ Jacobs we spent many a Christmas together at my sister’s house, this was between their many foreign assignments. What wonderful times we had. Although Bud didn’t know it at the time our whole family had our fingers crossed that Bud and Candis would get married! Yay!!!! And then things got interesting, including years later when their wonderful daughters Julia and Leigh were born, and now there is a whole new generation.

Once while doing genealogy research up popped a ship manifest that listed her parents, her brother, Candis (1 year old), and their grandmother arriving in the U.S. from Germany where Candis was born. Candis said that her parents were caught up in the diplomatic social whirl of their times, and she was basically raised by her grandmother, who according to Candis had the philosophy of letting the kids do whatever they wanted. That probably speaks to her independent nature.

If I could have chosen a sister – it would be Candis. My mother Evelyn Julia Carson adored her, and appreciated all the kindness, and love shown by Candis. Once, Bud and Candis invited Mom to visit them in Columbia, South America, where friends showered Mom with flowers for her birthday (instigated by Canids I’m sure). Mom talked about the room full of exotic flowers ‘just for her’ for many years.

I could write for hours about Candis. She was a unique, spirited, wonderful person, and I miss her.  My condolences to Julia, Leigh, Bud, and her granddaughters.

I am profoundly heartbroken to have learned, albeit belatedly, of the untimely passing of our dear Candis in January 2023.

I had the honor of collaborating with her in the sphere of drug control policy for many years and was warmly hosted at her home in 2006 with Joel, my son. That year, she mailed a lovely Christmas Greeting card to us in the Caribbean, which I kept all these years and retrieved from my treasure trunk a few days ago. Regrettably, I could not reach anyone on a phone line she shared with me - (703) 38 7332. 

Our love, thoughts, and prayers go to Bud, Julia, Leigh, and other close family members.  My current contact is (868) 284 1043.

I am so sorry to read this.  Candis and I knew each other lightly for years and were allies in her work on Afghanistan.  I am stunned to learn she passed away so soon after finishing that assignment.   Massive hugs to all of you!  She was wonderful.

I knew Candis from OSR in Rome Italy -

She was a wonderful person and had a fun personality and very sweet  . Hugs to her family . 

I am very sad 

Paulette Cardinaux Fraizer 

Candis, my dear friend of over 30 years, was bigger than life to me, so much so that it never occurred to me I’d have to live without her in my life.  So I will continue to talk to her as I take my walks, snuggle with the first afghan she made and gave to me the last time we were together, wander in my memories of our intimate heartfelt talks, exercise at the gym - a concept new to me when she dragged me to the State Department gym (hardly a gym) and let myself be shaken awake with those terse comments to get over something and move on.  We narrated to each other the highs, lows and antics of our kids, ever joyful we had them.  Candis was sassy, sometimes irreverent, kind in her candidness, quick to provide comfort and always, always there with comfort.   She was a blessing.