Obituary of Elizabeth S. Lenna Fairbank

Business Woman - Philanthropist - Community Leader Elizabeth S. Lenna Fairbank died at her home in Lakewood on Friday, April 15, 2011. Elizabeth (Betty) was born in Louisville, Kentucky December 16, 1923, the daughter of Augustus W. and Mary Alice (Gauley) Smith. Her family came to the Jamestown area when she was a child. She graduated from SS. Peter and Paul School, Jamestown High School, and Jamestown Community College. Betty married Reginald (Reg) A. Lenna in 1961. He was the President and CEO of Blackstone Corporation, one of the largest employers in Jamestown. Together, they transformed this company into an international business enterprise with plants in Sweden, Canada, and Mexico. Betty was a community volunteer and philanthropist and her involvement is far reaching. She was active in the renewal process for Jamestown, Lakewood, and Chautauqua Institution. She was also instrumental in developing support for the arts in the Chautauqua region. In Jamestown, Betty was President and then Chairman of the Reginald A. Lenna and Elizabeth S. Lenna Foundation; a member of the HSBC Bank Chautauqua Advisory Board; a founding member of the Robert H. Jackson Center and the Reg Lenna Civic Center advisory board. Betty also served on the board of The Blackstone Corporation, the WCA Hospital, and the T. James and Hazel C. Clarke Foundation. She was past president of Creche Inc and was a founding member and trustee of the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation. Betty was also a founding member of the Roger Tory Peterson Institute. In Lakewood, Betty was instrumental the Chautauqua Avenue renewal project. Betty was a Chautauqua Institution trustee from 1984 to 1992. During that time, she served on the Executive, Education, Youth and Recreation, Planning, Nominating, and Finance Committees. She continued her involvement as a member of the Development Council, the Finance and Asset, and the Policy committees through 2000. The Lennas built the Elizabeth S. Lenna Recital Hall in Chautauqua and were instrumental in the renovation of the Main Gate Welcome Center at Chautauqua Institution. Betty also purchased and renovated the Catholic House at Chautauqua. She also served on the Bishop's Advisory Council for Bishop Mansell of Buffalo. In 1999, Betty purchased and renovated the historic Packard Manor, the largest private home at Chautauqua Institution. Reg Lenna died in 2000. In 2002, Betty married Joseph A. Fairbank, the owner of Fairbank Farms in Ashville. Mr. Fairbank died in 2010. Betty was named Jamestown Community College Alumna of the Year in 1991 and received JCC Foundation's John D. Hamilton Award in 2005. She received a Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, and the Guadete Medal from St Bonaventure University. She also received the Paul Harris Fellow Award from the Foundation of Rotary International. A lifelong member of Ss. Peter and Paul Church, Betty enabled the complete remodeling of that church. Betty also received the Bishop's Medal from the Diocese of Buffalo and the St. Thomas Aquinas Award from the Academy of the Holy Family in Jamestown. Betty was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings Charles Smith, William Shelby Smith, Dorothy Colman, Mary Alice Rea, Ralph Smith, Roger Smith, James Smith, A. Eugene Smith, a nephew Kenneth Smith, and a niece, Michelle Reynolds. She is survived by her daughter Nancy and son-in-law Del Smith of Maryland, her sister Jane Page of Jamestown, and numerous nieces and nephews. The family suggests that, in lieu of flowers, a donation be made to the local charity of your choice. Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. Monday in the Lind Funeral Home, 805 West Third Street, Jamestown, where a Christian Wake Service will be led at 3:45 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday April 19, 2011, in Holy Apostles Parish, Ss Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 508 Cherry Street, Jamestown. You may light a candle in remembrance of Betty at www.lindfuneralhome.com