KNOX— Jean Marie Adam Forti never stopped giving.

As a young woman, she worked with troubled children at St. Catherine’s, and then with Senior Services of Albany. After her wedding, as she and her husband, Tony, raised their three children in Knox, she was a pillar of the community.

Mrs. Forti co-led Girl Scout Troop 1758, helped run the Pony Pals 4-H Club, and organized the elementary and high school science fairs and many PTA after-school programs. She was instrumental in the Knox Youth Council and summer camp, Knox Food Pantry, Fox Creek Farm, Meals-on-Wheels, Fox Creek Players, and many other community functions.

She was diagnosed with primary liver cancer on May 7, 2014, her 51st birthday. Despite her illness, she stayed involved as long as possible.

She died peacefully on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015, in her home surrounded by her family and pets. “She filled her 52 years with love, laughter, adventure, and care for others,” her family wrote in a tribute.

“Jean is literally the best person I know on the face of this Earth. If anything needs to be done for someone, she’s the person there,” said her friend Mary Ellen Nagengast last June as she helped to organize Jean Forti Day in Knox. “It’s like throwing a party for her just to show how many lives she’s touched, how many people love her.”

This week, Maria Shafer echoed those sentiments. Mrs. Shafer and Mrs. Forti have led a Hilltown Girl Scout troop together for nine years.

“She was full of life and adventurous and would do anything for anyone at any time,” said Mrs. Shafer. “She would cancel things to be there when you needed her.”

Mrs. Shafer gave this example: “I was having surgery and they changed the time. I needed help getting my kids on the school bus. Jean said, ‘Bring the kids over here. I’ll take care of them.’ And she did. I didn’t have to worry about a thing.”

Describing her friend as a mother, Mrs. Shafer said, “She was very dutiful.” She went on, “She’d make sure their homework was done.” Her children excel at school.

“She loved art and music and brought that to her children, encouraging them in whatever they wanted to do,” said Mrs. Shafer. “She was religious and brought that to her children, too, seeing them through their first communion and confirmation.”

Mrs. Forti was born in San Mateo, California on May 7, 1963, to Kay and Bob Adam. “At the age of 6, she and her family moved to a beautiful apricot and walnut orchard in sunny San Jose, California,” her family wrote. “Growing up, she was very active in many community and school activities, including Girl Scouts, summer camps, backpacking, tennis, skiing, horseback riding (good old sway-backed George), volunteering, and many family trips around the country.

“She was a good student in San Jose, participating in a senior prank involving a helicopter and ping pong balls. Her further adventures included a trip to Guatemala, driving around the country with her cousin, and exploring Europe with a best friend.”

Mrs. Forti graduated from Santa Clara University with a bachelor of science degree in combined sciences. After college, she crossed the country with two friends in a VW Bug, to start a new life in Albany.

“She joined the Hudson Mohawk Sierra Club, only to get lost on a hike and meet her future husband, Tony Forti,” her family wrote. “On Aug. 24, 1991, they married in Los Gatos, California, surrounded by good friends and family, redwood trees, and deer (who ate the flowers).”

The Fortis spent the next 24 years building up their house in Knox while raising three children, farm animals, and countless gardens. “Their door and their hearts were always open to anyone who came along,” her family wrote.

Mrs. Forti said, after she was diagnosed with cancer, “It just made us all get really close. Everybody all of a sudden realized every day was a gift. All of a sudden, family really mattered.”

“Jean brought a feeling of excitement and adventure into everything, always wanted to include everyone and bring any stranger into her circle,” her family concluded. “She taught her family and friends how to get the most out of every moment.”

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Jean Marie Adam Forti is survived by her husband, Tony; daughters, Katie and Marcy; son, Adam; sisters, Sara Luhrman and her husband, Raymond, and Cris Adam-Nakayama; brother, Scot Adam; mother, Kay Adam; and several cousins, a niece, and two nephews.

Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 29, at St. Lucy’s Church in Altamont. Arrangements are by Fredendall Funeral Home of Altamont.  The service will be followed by a celebration of her life at the Knox Town Park from 1 to 5 p.m. “True to Jean’s spirit, this will be a potluck, open to all,” her family wrote.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society at donate.cancer.org or to Post Office Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123 or to the Girl Scouts, or any of her favorite activities.

— Melissa Hale-Spencer