Patricia Lindau Powers

Died peacefully at home surrounded by her family in Pine City, NY, Saturday May 8, 2010.She is survived by her husband of 59 years Whitney "Bud" Powers; her children Peter (Joanne)Powers of Atlanta, GA, Elizabeth (Alan)Perry of Atlanta, GA, Linda (Anthony "Tony") Orbanac of College Park, MD,Margaret Powers of Pine City, NY, Laura(Alex) Hill of Atlanta, GA, Marshall (Julia)Powers of Willow Springs, NC. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Kathryn and David Perry, Whitney and Timothy Orbanac, Elena and Graham Hill and William Powers. She is survived by her sister Barbara Carter of Endicott, NY; predeceased by her sister Phyllis Converse of CT. Pat served as Vice President for Powers Manufacturing from 1958 until 1980. Her intelligence, commitment and support were key to the growth and success of Powers Manufacturing. Pat Powers is well known for her dedication to and involvement in the community. Pat began volunteering with Arnot Ogden Volunteer Auxiliary in 1971 and was elected President in 1976 serving until 1978.Pat joined the Board of the Arnot Ogden Medical Center in 1982.She was passionate about issues relating to the welfare of the hospital staff. She will be remembered for her indefatigable dedication to the health issues of women in the community. At her retirement in 2005, she was recognized by the Board and remained an Honorary Member of the Board. Pat was elected to the Board of Directors of the Elmira Savings Bank, FSB on June 21, 1977, and she was a committed participant until her retirement in 2001. She served as the Audit Committee Chair Person for several years. Pat had a special allegiance to the Clemens Center for the Performing Arts.She first joined the Board of the Clemens Center in 1980, five years after the organization was formed. She was instrumental in bringing structure to the Board and instituting term limits for trustees. Pat served six years, from 1980 to 1986 before stepping down at the end of her second three-year term. She was nominated to return to the Board after the required 1-year absence and began her second tenure in 1987 and continued through 1993, another six years of service. Pat succeeded George Zurenda to become the second President of the Board of Trustees as the organization was preparing to transition to its third Executive Director.Pat appointed and served on the search committee to hire Tom Weidemann, succeeding Robert A. Freedman. After serving as President from 1982-1984 (and establishing the precedent that Presidents will serve two year and then step down), Pat was re-elected President of the Trustees in 1988. She shares with David Mandeville the distinction of being one of only two Trustees elected to serve as president of the Board on two separate occasions. In September 1991, the Board of Trustees honored Pat for her leadership and service to the organization by naming the main theater the Patricia L. Powers Theater. In 1996, Pat was again nominated and elected to serve. She served a single three-year term before retiring to spend more time with family. In the years when Pat was not sitting as President of the Board of Trustees, she was the active liaison between the Clemens Center and the regional foundation community and annually hosted a foundation "brown-bag lunch" at the Center to keep donors informed of the Center activities and needs. Pat supported manycharitable and goodwill community organizations including the Chemung County ARC, Food Bank of the Southern Tier, Meals on Wheels, Pine City Volunteer Fire Department, Reins of Hope, Southern Tier Hospice, Southside Community Center and the SPCA. The family will receive those wishing to celebrate her life and accomplishments on Friday, May 14, 2010, from 2pm - 7pm in the Patricia L. Powers Theater at the Clemens Center in Elmira NY. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 435 East Henrietta Road, Rochester, NY 14620 or to the Muscular Dystrophy Association / CMT Research, 601 Gates Road, Vestal, NY 13850. Arrangements have been entrusted to Olthof Funeral Home, Inc., 1050 Pennsylvania Avenue, Elmira/Southport, NY. A "Candle of Remembrance" may be left for the family in Obituaries atwww.olthof.com.