Brennan announces progress on effort to honor Elizabeth “Libby” White
H.R. 488 recognizes June 30th in her honor
Rep. Tim Brennan October 28, 2024 | 3:49 PM
DOYLESTOWN, Oct. 28 – The House has passed his legislation to recognize June 30, 2024 as “Mayor Elizabeth ‘Libby’ White Day” in Pennsylvania, state Rep. Tim Brennan announced today.
Born to a military family on June 30, 1935, Elizabeth “Libby” White was Doylestown’s first female mayor and remains an admired figure in Bucks County’s history. She died at home in Pine Run Retirement Community on her 87th birthday in 2022.
Her husband, Lou White, was present on the House floor as a guest of Brennan on October 22 to see the resolution pass, along with the current mayor of Doylestown, Noni West, and the immediate prior mayor, Ron Strouse. The group was also recognized by Sen. Steve Santarsiero on the Senate floor.
“Libby deserves recognition as a trailblazing mayor who lived a life defined by service. She left a profound impact on the people of Bucks County, especially Doylestown,” said Brennan. “She conducted herself with grace, character, perseverance, and kindness. She was an example for all of us, as citizens and individuals, and I have no doubt her name and accomplishments will be forever cherished in our local history.”
“Libby White was a true trailblazer, serving Doylestown Borough with poise, kindness and compassion,” said Santarsiero. “Her indelible spirit and legacy can still be felt in the borough through the many initiatives she led and in all of us who had the privilege of knowing her.”
Libby moved often in her early life, including living abroad in Tokyo, Japan. Upon settling in Doylestown with her husband in 1964, she became a beloved community leader working to better her chosen home.
“Libby was a wonderful woman and mentor,” said West. “She was the first one to knock on my door when I moved back to Doylestown. She got me involved in the community. Her depth of caring continued to shine through as she proceeded to become the first female mayor of Doylestown.”
During her tenure as mayor of Doylestown, Libby created the Doylestown Borough Commission for All Ages to facilitate intergenerational interactions, and the Clean and Green project to make Doylestown a more attractive and eco-friendlier place to live. One of her most significant achievements was her work to form the Central Bucks Regional Police Department, a model of good government and intermunicipal cooperation.
“Libby worked tirelessly to make our community more inclusive,” said Strouse. “We have been proud to follow her in that work and, through that, build a stronger community.”
“Libby was a classy and gracious woman, and beneath that was a passion for her community and the strength to lead it,” said John Davis, borough manager of Doylestown.
Libby graduated from West Chester University with a BA in music education and worked as a music teacher at the beginning of her career. She also gave harp lessons, and later went on to earn a Master’s degree in elementary guidance and counseling from Lehigh University.
Libby was also recently honored with a monument at Doylestown’s Broad Commons Park, located next to the regional police headquarters that she worked so hard to see come to fruition. In addition to her husband, she is survived by two sons and a grandson.