JAKE PIERSOL

Jacob Wolfe “Jake” Piersol died suddenly at his home in Hacksneck on Jan. 15, 2023. He was 79.

He was born in Fayetteville, Tenn., on Sept. 27, 1943. Shortly after his birth, the Piersol family moved to Culver, Ind., where he grew up. He attended Culver public schools, graduating from high school in 1961. He served in the army from 1963 to 1966, stationed at Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, where he was selected for special training in missile tracking, After his military service, Jake moved to Alamogordo, N.M., where he was a ski instructor. Around 1970 he moved to downtown Manhattan in New York City where his two sisters, both artists, were living in Soho. He rented a small loft, worked in a sporting goods store, and became immersed in the art culture.

After two years he decided country life would better suit his temperament and moved to Rockbridge County. In typical fashion he found himself an interesting place to live, the former South Buffalo library building. It had never been lived in but he talked the owner into allowing it and proceeded to make it his own, not far from the Johnston/ Huffman farm where his maternal Johnston ancestors had become established in the mid-1700s.

Jake initially painted houses for a living, but while searching for country antiques for himself he realized he could buy and sell for others. Eventually he was drawn into the mid-century modern design world that would become his passion.

When Jake met Zoe Bryans of Charlottesville, he knew he had met his soul mate. They were married in 1995. Zoe went to nursing school and became one of the area’s most beloved hospice nurses. Together at South Buffalo they created a lovely landscape of vegetable and flower gardens and exposed rock outcroppings. Their summer dinner parties were memorable, complete with bocce court. Like his father, Jake loved being in nature, hunting not for game but for mushrooms and berries.

Eventually the couple decided to buy a house on the Eastern Shore. Jake fished often on Chesapeake Bay. He frequented antique auctions up and down the Atlantic coast. He sold miscellaneous items at local flea markets, making friends with Mexican farm workers and seasoned collectors alike. Many will attest to being entertained with his storytelling.

Jake was predeceased by his wife, Zoe Bryans, and his older sister, Lucinda Feldman of New York City.

Surviving are his sister, Virginia Piersol of Lexington; his brother Brian Piersol and his niece Toto Feldman, both of Brooklyn, N.Y.; his nephew Ben Feldman of Amherst, Mass.; and numerous first cousins.

Memorial services are planned for later dates in Brooklyn, N.Y., Hacksneck and Lexington. N-G