Williamsport is known as a community with an arts portfolio that goes well beyond its size.
Recently, the community lost the person who may be most responsible for the arts explosion in the city in the past 20 years.
When the Capitol Theatre was crumbling, it was Mary Lib Stockwell who approached Pennsylvania College of Technology and asked it to partner with the City of Williamsport and the Williamsport-Lycoming Foundation to purchase the building and restore to its former glory.
Today, the Community Arts Center is a major part of the soul of the city, hosting arts of all kinds that touch every demographic in the region.
First Friday, the Pajama Factory, staples of the city's arts portfolio, wouldn't exist without Mary Lib Stockwell.
She had vision. And she used that vision to break barriers.
Mary Lib Stockwell ran a small business. She was the first woman to be appointed to the board of the Williamsport Foundation and the longest dues-paying member of the Williamsport Country Club.
She occupied places in organizations that, sadly, women in her time weren't occupying.
And through her exploits, vision, leadership and humanity, Mary Lib Stockwell forged improvements in the city where she lived.
Mary Lib Stockwell squeezed every ounce of potential out of her life and our community benefitted greatly. We salute a life well lived.
