Jesse was born in New York City. He attended local public schools and received a degree as a registered pharmacist from Columbia University in 1916. He was drafted into the U.S. army in October, 1917, and was preparing to go overseas to France with the Medical corps when the influenza epidemic broke out, forcing his unit to remain in the U.S. He spent the rest of his service as a pharmacist stationed at Fort Slocum off the coast of New Rochelle, NY. Following the end of World War I, he owned a neighborhood pharmacy in the Bronx, NY, remaining there until retiring to Florida in the late 1960’s. He became a member of JWV Post 42 in Mt. Vernon, NY and proudly wore his cap on Memorial Day and at Veteran’s Day ceremonies.