COM Founding Librarian Rosemary Kelley's Bequest Provides Financial Support for COM Students
When Rosemary Kelley joined the UNE College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM) as its medical librarian in 1978, disco reigned supreme, Jimmy Carter was president and a gallon of gas coast approximately 60 cents. The COM library for the fledgling medical school at the time was rudimentary at best, with only 200 medical texts and no journal subscriptions or reference materials. "Kelley was one of the brave souls who helped start COM," said Dean of Library Services Andrew Golub, who worked with Kelley in the early 1980s. "She, like the founding faculty members and the first classes of medical students, took a substantial risk on an as-yet-unaccredited institution. She was the founding librarian of COM and built an excellent medical library literally from nothing."
Kelley came to UNE with a stellar background, with a B.A. from Bates College and professional office experience from Tufts University School of Medicine and Harvard Medical School. Over the next six years, she single-handedly built a 5,000-volume and 300-journal medical library.
With her strong work ethic, a lifetime of saving and some solid estate planning, Kelley was able to give back to something she believed could make a difference. She passed away in 2007, and the gift that she had carefully planned through her estate has enabled the University to create the Rosemary Kelley Endowed Scholarship for COM students with financial need. "Rosemary believed in helping those less fortunate, who also wished to improve themselves and their communities - something that comes naturally to UNE's medical students," said her nephew Jack Kelley.
UNE is tremendously grateful to Rosemary Kelley and many other faculty and staff who have devoted their careers to our students and include UNE in their giving and estate plans to create even more educational opportunities. Please contact us to discuss how you can join our faculty and staff in creating opportunities for UNE students. Click here to review sample bequest language, and if you have included UNE in your estate plan, please let us know. We would like to thank you and recognize you for your gift.