Librarian and community pillar Mary Elizabeth “Libby” Williams died in 2022.
This year, she’s investing in robotic surgery at UPMC Northwest.
Born in 1934 in Clarion, Libby was the daughter of Samuel Clifford Elder and Leda Romaine Keefer Elder. She earned a master’s degree and advanced certificate in library science from the University of Pittsburgh. In 1960, she married Arthur R. Williams, and they shared 39 years of marriage until his passing in 1999.
Libby worked as a librarian at Northwest High School, South Side Junior High School, Oil City High School, and Clarion University Venango Campus, where she served as head librarian. Throughout her life, she was deeply committed to volunteer work, serving on local boards and in social clubs. She cared deeply about improving the quality of life for people across the region.
In her will, Libby established the Arthur and Mary E. Williams Charitable Trust to support several local causes, including medical equipment for UPMC Northwest.
Today, Libby’s gift will help fund the Intuitive da Vinci Xi Surgical Robot which has brought robotic surgery to UPMC Northwest for the first time. With smaller incisions and greater precision, robotic surgery can help patients heal faster and return to daily life sooner.
Although Libby passed away four years ago, her legacy will continue in the operating room at UPMC Northwest through this state-of-the-art technology. Local patients are benefitting from less pain, smaller incisions, and a lower risk of infection.
Just like Libby, you can leave your legacy by making a planned gift to the Northwest Hospital Foundation. Making a bequest in your will costs you nothing today and makes all the difference tomorrow.
For more information about making a planned gift, please contact Executive Director Theresa Edder at edderta2@upmc.edu or 814.676.7145.
