Elizabeth 'Libby' (Scarborough) Mascia

Elizabeth “Libby” Scarborough Mascia dedicated herself to securing educational opportunities for all children and was committed to sharing with others her firm conviction that everyone is a person of value.

Libby was born in Florence, South Carolina on December 21, 1920 to Orlando Calhoun Scarborough, Jr. and Elizabeth Irene Turner Scarborough.  She was raised in Winnsboro, South Carollina, graduating from the Mt. Zion Institute in 1937.  She then attended Furman University, graduating in 1941.  After college she moved to New York to attend to graduate school at Columbia University, where she met and married Dr. Armond “Mandy” Mascia.

Through her husband she became involved in the Louis August Jonas Foundation and Camp Rising Sun in 1944.   In fact, during the very difficult years of World War II, she worked tirelessly to support Camp and even spent one long summer cooking for the boys. Libby loved visiting the campers in Rhinebeck and dedicated almost 70 years to seeing it grow.

Libby has a passion for giving back to her community and was an active supporter of numerous organizations, charities and philanthropic endeavors in Westchester County.  Most notably, she was the Founding President of the Day Care Center of the Tarrytowns in 1967, later renamed The Elizabeth Mascia Child Care Center in her honor.  Through the Center, she has made a vital impact on the lives of generations of families.  Libby was also a founder of Abbott House in 1963, an organization and school supporting abused, neglected and abandoned children. 

In the mid 1960s she served as a member of the Citizens Committee for the Family Court that led to the establishment of the Family Court System in Westchester County.  A few of the numerous community-based organizations that she was active in during her life were the Phelps Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, the Tarrytown Chapter of the American Red Cross, the Westchester Association for Retarded Citizens, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the Westchester Medical Center Auxiliary, local Girl Scout troops, and the Hudson River Patriots Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.  She was also a Co-Chair of the Tarrytown Centennial Committee.  In 1980 the Sleepy Hollow Chamber of Commerce named her and her husband the first Couple of the Year.

Libby, who once played semi-pro basketball, was an avid sports fan and shared her devotion to the New York Yankees with all of her family and friends. 

She and Mandy were married for 45 years until his death in 1990.  Together the couple raised seven children, Mary Ella Pierpont (Gordon), Fred Mascia (Maggie), Peggy Ahrend (Bill), Melissa Verdi (Larry), Nick Mascia, Etta Biloon (David), and Sara Mascia, and a nephew Edward Scarborough, and welcomed many friends into their extended family.  Libby’s children, their spouses, eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren were a constant source of joy in her life.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Elizabeth Mascia Child Care Center or the Louis August Jonas Foundation.

Visitation will be at Coffey Funeral Home on Monday from 7-9 PM and Tuesday from 5-8PM. Her Funeral Mass will be Wednesday at 10:00 at the Church of the Magdalene, Pocantico Hills with interment to follow in Gate of Heaven Cemetery.