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Susan Montgomery, 76, civic leader of many causes

Susan Oliver Montgomery, 76, of Center City, a longtime civic leader, died Sunday, Jan. 11, of lung cancer at Penn Hospice at Rittenhouse.

Susan Montgomery
Susan MontgomeryRead more

Susan Oliver Montgomery, 76, of Center City, a longtime civic leader, died Sunday, Jan. 11, of lung cancer at Penn Hospice at Rittenhouse.

Born in Louisville, Ky., Mrs. Montgomery moved with her family to Buffalo. She attended the Buffalo Seminary and Smith College and graduated with a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Buffalo.

In 1960, she married Edward "Ned" A. Montgomery Jr., who later rose to be vice chairman of Mellon Bank Corp. and chairman of Mellon Bank in Philadelphia. The company is now BNY Mellon.

Currently, he is vice chairman of the board of trustees for the Curtis Institute of Music.

Known to friends as Susie, Mrs. Montgomery devoted her life to her family, and to doing extensive volunteer work.

"Mrs. Montgomery dedicated herself tirelessly to the causes and organizations she supported," her family said in a remembrance. "She always had to give back in life, and felt that for your life to have meaning, you had to give to other people. Some found it inspiring."

While living in Sewickley, Pa., for 25 years, she served on the board of the Sewickley Valley Hospital and, in one year, spent 1,000 volunteer hours establishing its volunteer program. She also served on the Magee Women's Hospital board in Pittsburgh.

After living in London for three years, the family moved to Philadelphia in 1985. Mrs. Montgomery immersed herself in community activities. She was the second woman elected to the board of the Library Company of Philadelphia, on which she served for more than 20 years.

Her love of Philadelphia led her to chair the board of Independence National Historical Park; her devotion to the environment inspired her to serve for years on the board of the Natural Lands Trust and as chair of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council; and her fondness for history and old buildings motivated her to join the board of the Historic Preservation Coalition in Philadelphia.

She was the founding chair of the Friends of the American Philosophical Society, which identified major new funding sources for the society.

"She will be missed by the many who enjoyed her great goodwill and enthusiastic love of learning," said Alexis Shutt Anderson, Friends director.

Surviving, besides her husband, are daughters Martha "Molly" Napolitana and Margaret "Meg" Morse; two grandsons; and a sister, Joan D. Oliver. Her twin sister, Martha "Bunny" Oliver, died in 2010.

Plans are pending for a celebration of life in the spring or early summer. Burial is private.

Donations in her memory may be made to the Friends of the American Philosophical Society via www.amphilsoc.org.