Judith B. Jacobs, of Niskayuna, N.Y. and Chilmark died on Nov. 1 at home in Niskayuna at the age of 80. She died from the effects of Parkinson’s disease, originally diagnosed 30 years ago. Judy was born in Chicago, Ill., the daughter of Samuel and Miriam Booth. She attended Reed College, Portland, Or., and received an M.S.W. from the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago.

While at the University of Chicago she met and married Israel (Jake) Jacobs, her husband of 57 years. They moved to Niskayuna (Schenectady) in 1954. They made their first visit to the Vineyard in 1963 with close friends, staying at the Menemsha Inn in Chilmark. They returned to the Island in 1967 to Edgartown, and thereafter spent part of every summer and portions of the off-season every year through 2007. In 1974 they moved back to Chilmark into an upside-down house, Summersault‚ built by the late Herb Hancock to designs by architects Feibes and Schmitt of Schenectady, N.Y.

In Niskayuna, Judy was involved in community activities as a volunteer activist in the social service delivery system. She was active with the Schenectady League of Women Voters where she eventually chaired the judiciary committee and later served several terms as LWV president. Judy served on the Community Welfare Council, and became its president in 1971. The Council was the planning arm of the United Way and oversaw private welfare agencies. She oversaw the dissolution of the council and the creation of the Human Services Planning Council, a new organization to coordinate the services of both public and private welfare agencies. She long considered this one of her most important contributions to the community. Other boards on which she served included Freedom Forum, Planned Parenthood and the New York State Citizens Council for Children, Youth, and their Families. The YWCA awarded Judy the Woman of Vision award in 1979 for her outstanding community service support. She also received the Susan B. Anthony Award from the LWV in 1983.

Judy is survived by her husband, her daughter, Eve Jacobs Carnahan and son in law Paul Carnahan of Montpelier, Vt., her son, Michael Jacobs and daughter in law Dorothy Bisbee of Concord, and five grandchildren.

A memorial service was held at Congregation Agudat Achim, Niskayuna, on Nov. 11.

Contributions in Judy’s memory may be made to Girls Inc. of the Greater Capital Region, 976 Albany St., Schenectady, NY 12307.