TAMPA, FL – Long-time automotive fleet industry figure Ed Jacob passed away Feb. 16 at the age of 81. According to son Tom Jacob, account manager for GE Commercial Finance Fleet Services, the elder Jacob established and managed the Chicago office of Automotive Resources International (ARI) in 1963, building it into the company’s top performing region at the time. Ed Jacob later worked at ARI’s New Jersey corporate headquarters. After retiring from ARI in 1981, Jacob moved to Tampa. Earlier in his career, Jacob was sales manager for the initial Greyhound Rent A Car venture founded by Dick Fencl in 1956. Jacob also worked with the late Zollie Frank, founder of Wheels Inc. Born Edward Jacob, Jr., in 1924, he was a graduate of Northwestern University and served as a U.S. Navy officer during World War II aboard the battleship, the USS Washington. He is survived by Dee, his wife of 30-plus years, son Tom, and daughter Linda Hanahan, seven grandchildren and one great grandson, and a sister, Ruth Pierobon.