Mary Withers, Vice President of the Westfield Neighborhood Council, is a wonderful example of a model Lifelong Westfield resident.

Mary moved to Westfield in 1958 to care for her ailing brother. They lived together in an apartment on Rahway Avenue and then moved to Cacciola Place after she married her husband, George. Mary and George have lived for over 60 years on Cacciola Place, where they raised their four wonderful children: Shelly, George-Anna, George and Theresa. All four graduated from Westfield High School, and Mary and George are very thankful for the wonderful education that their children received in town.

Mary worked for a nearby corporation as a Quality Control Expert, but since there was no daycare for children in town in the 1960s, she helped form the Westfield Community Action group along with several of her neighbors. With many hours of dedication and resourcefulness, they pushed for the formation of the Westfield Daycare Center on the grounds of the Presbyterian Church on Madison Avenue.

For more than 60 years, Mary has dedicated herself to the improvement of the quality of life of Westfield residents. She was one of the founding members of the Westfield Neighborhood Council (WNC) in 1969. Mary has remained a trustee of the WNC ever since, and she is an amazing example of someone who gives back to her community. Her dedication helped lead to the formation of the WNC’s preschool program in 1975, and a full day care program 10 years later. In 2008, due to the desire to always pay it forward, Mary was named Volunteer of the Year by the Union County Board of Commissioners. Mary takes amazing pride in the fact that the WNC has brought many wonderful people together.

Since the WNC is a private, non-profit, community-based organization, Mary is always greatly appreciative of any donations that can be made to the WNC. One of the things that Mary loves most about Westfield is the wonderful neighbors and Lifelong friends that she has made who have worked together to make Westfield a better place.