Jacqueline Morby taught her daughter Michelle many things. Some were her secrets to life: always dance, read poetry often, find a partner who is curious and loves adventure.

She also taught her daughter how to swim.

“She was a really fun swim instructor,” said Michelle Morby, recalling her mom’s lessons. “I just remember it was really funny to blow bubbles underwater. She was able to make it playful.”

Jacqueline Morby, longtime seasonal resident of Martha’s Vineyard, died on May 12 at 88 years old. A pioneer in venture capitalism and an active philanthropist, Ms. Morby left her mark on-Island with her contributions to Martha’s Vineyard Community Services, the YMCA pool renovation and the summer intellectual scene.

“She very much had the attitude of wanting to leave every place she came into better than she found it,” said Michelle Morby.

Ms. Morby was born in 1937 in Sacramento, Calif. She earned a psychology degree from Stanford University, and later an MBA from Simmons University. She rose among the ranks at the private equity firm TA Associates, helping to establish venture capitalism and investing in the early industries of software and gaming.

“She really had an amazing vision for what venture capital could do,” said Michelle Morby.

Ms. Morby’s philanthropic interests, along with her husband Jeffrey Morby who died in 2023, were wide-ranging, from Planned Parenthood, to the World Wildlife Fund, National Public Radio and Alzheimer’s research. They also extended to the Vineyard, her summer home for decades.

Ms. Morby first fell in love with the Vineyard in the 1970s, and built a house on Edgartown Great Pond in the ‘90s. Wanting the Vineyard to thrive year-round, she and her daughter donated $3 million to community services for its new campus, in memory of Jeffrey Morby.

It was the “most important thing we could do for the Island for people to go and seek understanding and support, without judgment,” said Michelle Morby.

The Morbys’ donation is a “significant investment in the mental health of the Island,” said Gary Foster, a community services board member who led the capital campaign for the new campus.

“We can already tell, it will give both the providers and the clients, and our administration, a sense of pride and happiness of coming to work, or going to get your treatment to feel taken care of,” he said.

Ms. Morby studied psychology in college, Michelle Morby said.

“She was always interested in the human condition, and sort of why we tick and how we tick,” she said.

Another of Ms. Morby’s investment in a thriving, year-round Vineyard was giving money to the YMCA pool. Ms. Morby was a lifeguard and a lifelong swimmer. She first taught her kids to swim while living in Brazil, and they continued at the YMCA in Cambridge.

“It’s so essential for all children, just as important as learning how to read and write,” said Michelle Morby. “We’re really proud to support this new era of everyone learning to swim.”

The YMCA pool was renamed the Morby Mako Pool after the local swim team.

Ms. Morby was always prepared to have a party, which often intertwined with her fundraising efforts, Michelle Morby said. For one event, the family pushed all their furniture aside and turned their house into a tango night club.

On the Vineyard, Ms. Morby’s gatherings were a testament to her curiosity. She co-hosted the Women of the Island Speaker Series, a weekly lecture at the Morbys’ home that invited women to speak about their life and work.

It is a group of curious, intellectual women, said Sandy Pimentel, co-host of the series.

“It really became a place of both learning and support,” Ms. Pimentel said.

Ms. Morby spoke multiple times, reflecting on both her trajectory in venture capitalism and her short time living in Argentina with her family.

“She very humbly and quietly talked about her journey,” said Ms. Pimentel, reflecting on Ms. Morby’s diligence as she worked her way up through her firm. “She was so brilliant and so kind, she was always thinking of how to use both her resources and skills and parlay it into the world in a positive way.”

This summer, the speaker series will continue at the Morby household.

“Even though she won’t be there, we’ll feel her presence and her generosity,” said Ms. Pimentel.

The family will host a celebration of life in the fall, in time for the opening of the new community services facilities.