Jacob (Jaap) Nunes Vaz was born 20 September 1906 in Amsterdam, Holland. Member of the independent socialist party. He worked as a journalist for the underground newspaper “het Parool” and was arrested by the Gestapo on 25 October 1942 in the town of Wageningen. Imprisoned in Scheveningen.

He was deported from Westerbork transit camp to Sobibor and perished there on 13 March 1943

Jacob Nunes Vas (known as Jaap) was married. He and his wife lived in Amsterdam and had no children. Jaap Nunes Vas became a journalist after completing higher secondary school. He joined the Onafhankelijke Socialistische Partij (OSP). At first he worked for the Vaz Dias press agency. Later he joined the ANP, where he was fired for being Jewish. He then did translations and wrote a booklet on aviation. The first meeting of the Parool editorial board was held in his room on the Keizersgracht. He served on the editorial board and eventually became the executive editor and wrote lead articles. During a search, his hiding place was discovered. On 25 October 1942 he was caught in Wageningen. From the Scheveningen convict prison, Jacob Nunes Vaz was deported via Westerbork to Sobibor, where he was killed.

Jacob Nunes Vaz was a memeber of the Socialisties Jeugdverbond [Socialist Youth Alliance], from 1932 till 1935. The artist Meijer Bleekrode, a personal friend from his years at the OSP, painted a portrait of Jacob Nunes Vaz. Also a street is named after him in Amsterdam.