Almost three years after Summerkids camp killed her granddaughter Roxie and three months after cancer killed her daughter-in-law Elena Matyas, cancer has also claimed the life of Carole Forbes, mother of Meow Meow Foundation President Doug Forbes.

“She was devastated by Summerkids camp owners’ extraordinary negligence that caused Roxie’s preventable death,” said Doug Forbes. “However, my mother immediately channeled her pain into purpose by becoming the foundation’s first and most frequent donor.”

Doug said that this tenacity defined his mother’s life. Her own childhood included the death of her sister before age three. Her father also subjected the family to years of brutal abuse.

Despite these profound challenges, Carole became her high school class valedictorian and proudly led the marching band as drum majorette. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in elementary education in 1956, embarking upon a decorated career as a teacher.

Her lifelong advocacy for women's equality started in 1961 when she successfully challenged the school rule that required pregnant teachers to resign. After taking a break from teaching to raise her two children, she remained active as founding member and active volunteer her church nursery school and first woman to serve on the vestry.

Carole returned to full time teaching in 1971 where she was valued as a mentor to younger colleagues and an award-winning educational innovator. Even in retirement, she still heard from the families of students whose lives she influenced.

In retirement, Carole became a victim's advocate for A Woman's Place, helping women navigate legal processes that prevented them from further domestic abuse. Simultaneously she worked at Full Circle Thrift Store — that supported A Woman's Place — where she earned Volunteer of the Year. She was also a frequent and beloved contributor to the Living Hope Food Pantry in Dublin.

“I’m severely struggling with the fact that my little girl, my wife and now my mother are gone,” Doug said. “But I promise to use their legacies of compassion as inspiration to fill the future with work that matters.”