Family and Friends Say Goodbye to Senator Libous

Hundreds of family members and friends gathered at the Church of the Holy Family in Endwell Saturday morning for a Mass of Christian Burial for long-time New York State Senator Thomas W. Libous.  The late senator passed away on May 3, 2016 after years of battling prostate cancer.

It is difficult to find many significant projects in the area over the past three decades that did not come about or continue without the assistance of the late senator.  He was instrumental in numerous mental health projects.  He also was able to obtain state funding for construction of the $33 million Events Center on campus at Binghamton University. The Events Center is not only home to the University's basketball teams but also for graduation ceremonies, concerts, job fairs and numerous community events. It also provided shelter for hundreds of area families when massive flooding forced evacuation from their homes several years ago.

Senator Libous also was instrumental in acquiring funding for major upgrades for both NYSEG Stadium and the Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena helping to keep professional baseball and hockey in this area.  He was also able to gain appropriations to keep the B C Open at En Joie Golf Course when the tournament faced a potential pull-out by the PGA.

Senator Libous spent his final days at Mercy House in Endicott, a recently-opened sanctuary for those in the terminal stage of life. In his final days he was still concerned about the community and what was best for the area he loved.  Evidence of that is seen with his family's request for those wishing to honor him to make a donation to Mercy House.  That request helps ensure that others may be helped and comforted as he was.