Phyllis Jampol died on May 3 after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.

She was born in Queens, N.Y., graduated from Hofstra University and obtained her master’s degree in social work from Fordham University.

She went on to a career helping people as a social worker, in service to the elderly, the developmentally challenged, and for the latter half of her career, in the schools of the Hudson Valley region of New York, where her devotion to advocating for families won recognition and awards. Her work included initiating a Banana Splits program to counsel children in single-parent families, as well as guiding couples wanting to adopt children.

Phyllis began visiting Martha’s Vineyard with her husband Steven in the late 1970s. In 1986 they bought a summer cottage on Nashawena Park in Oak Bluffs, where she and daughters Sarah and Lily spent happy times between school years. After retiring in 2005, Phyllis and Steven moved to their Vineyard home in 2007, where Phyllis brought her energy to their gardens, the Community Solar Greenhouse, the Island Food Pantry, and help Lily in her horseback-riding passion.

It was determined that some quirky behaviors were signs of the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s. Despite that, Phyllis carried on, enjoying life every day, which included multiple trips to Mexico, and, above all, loving her family and friends.

She is survived by her husband Steven Auerbach; their two daughters, Sarah, of Philmont, N.Y., and Lily, of Groton; two grandsons, Jacob and Nommy; brother-in-law Walter Petzinger, of Oak Bluffs, niece Sunny of Washington, D.C. and nephew Andy, of New York city; brother-in-law Chuck Auerbach and sister in law Mary Auerbach of Akron, Ohio; and nephews Dan of Nashville, Tenn., and Geoff, of Akron, Ohio. She was predeceased by her sister Diana.

All who knew her will miss her talent, warmth and bright, golden smile.