News & Events

John Webber Estate Leaves Millions to Support Bangor Healthcare

Date: 05/11/2023

Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center is honored to be a beneficiary of the late John M. Webber’s estate.
 
In a joint news conference today, John Webber’s estate made a partial distribution of $9,000,000 to Eastern Maine Medical Center along with a $9,000,000 partial distribution to St. Joseph Healthcare Foundation. An additional distribution of several million dollars is anticipated at a later date for both organizations following the final settlement of the estate. This gift, the largest in the history of Eastern Maine Medical Center, will influence healthcare in the greater Bangor community for generations to come. 

A native of Bangor and a longtime supporter of the community, John Webber attended local schools before serving his country as a member of an elite division of the United States Marine Corps. After a decorated military career, he returned home to attend the University of Maine where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in art. Through the years, he supported many non-profit organizations in the Bangor community. John greatly valued the high-quality, specialty care that EMMC provides the region. 

“We are extraordinarily moved by Mr. Webber’s generous gift to support Eastern Maine Medical Center,” says Tim Dentry, president and CEO of Northern Light Health and interim president of Eastern Maine Medical Center. “The support of people like Mr. Webber ensures hospitals are able to keep pace with innovation in the tools and technology needed to continue to deliver high-quality healthcare to our community.”

John Webber’s intention for the gift was to benefit the future of healthcare for the Bangor community. Dentry expressed, “A gift of such magnitude has a tremendous effect on patient care, one that will be felt for generations. This gift will advance technology, enhance access, and support great outcomes for our patients.”

“John’s father was lifelong friends with my father,” recalls Dr. Frank Bragg, retired Eastern Maine Medical Center physician. “I had the pleasure of getting to know John from a young age. This community was incredibly important to the entire Webber family, and I’m pleased to see John carry on his family’s legacy by supporting the future of healthcare for the Bangor community.” 

“John Webber's gift to Eastern Maine Medical Center makes it quite apparent how much EMMC meant to him personally and how important he felt it was to have a strong healthcare presence in his community for generations after his passing.  John, like his parents before him, firmly believed in sharing his resources and that it is the on-going role of citizens to ensure that their community remains vibrant for future generations,” states Steven Spetnagel, nephew of John Webber.

John Webber’s gift carries on a legacy of philanthropic support by the Webber Family. His late parents, G. Peirce and Florence Webber, were generous, long-time donors to EMMC. Their many campaign gifts accomplished significant goals critically important to so many, and the endowments they established will continue to provide substantial benefits for patient care for years to come. The Webber family name is prominently displayed on the Webber Buildings at the Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center State Street campus in recognition of their generosity.