William Higie, attorney and philanthropist, passed away Monday in Gibsonia.

He was 92.

Among many accomplishments, Higie was instrumental with the advisory board for the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, was a founder of Bradford Educational Foundation, was managing director and a former trustee of the Glendorn Foundation, and served on the board of the Bradford Hospital for about two decades.

“This is a most difficult time for Bill’s family and the university,” said Dr. Richard McDowell, president emeritus of Pitt-Bradford. “We have all lost a dedicated, strong and consistent leader.”

McDowell said he worked with Higie throughout his tenure as president at Pitt-Bradford, from 1973 to 2002, “and most closely when he became chair of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford advisory board — a position he held until 1995. He was appointed to the University of Pittsburgh board of trustees in 1993 and served two years.”

McDowell talked about the importance of the advisory board to Pitt-Bradford. He said Pitt-Bradford’s first president, Dr. Donald Swarts, “had the foresight to develop a board composed of strong local leaders to serve as champions for the college and to provide a regional perspectives to the Pittsburgh administration and its board of trustees.”

And Higie, during his 22 years on the board, “shaped the Advisory Board to function and operate much like a board of trustee of a private college with committees and councils. This structure and Bill’s leadership were major forces to the development of the college we see today,” McDowell said.

“Pitt-Bradford was transformed from a two-year relocation college to a four degree granting institution in 1975. And Bill, at graduation, was almost jubilant our local/regional students did not have to leave,” McDowell continued.

The physical plant of the campus grew under Higie’s purview as well.

“Considerable construction also occurred with the building of Fisher Hall, Tom L. McDowell Field House, Frame-Westerberg Commons, and the Edward and Tullah Hanley Library,” McDowell said. “The college also added 214 residence hall spaces to the existing Town Houses of 320. Funding for these building were a blend of private and public funds.

“The college’s physical plant master plan which has shaped today’s campus was complete in (Higie’s) last year as chair,” McDowell said. “The second floor wing of Swarts Hall was named in his honor in 2002.”

He explained that while Higie was proud of all of Pitt-Bradford’s developments, he held a particular fondness for the Bradford Educational Foundation, established in 1981 with Higie as one of its founders.

“The foundation is a supporting organization set up in accordance to IRS rules and it can only support Pitt-Bradford or its successor organization,” McDowell said. Many projects and activities have been funded through the foundation, its assets of which were over $30 million as of June 30, he explained.

Higie was a recipient of Pitt-Bradford’s highest honor, the Presidential Medal of Distinction, in 1996.

“With Bill’s passing and looking back at his time, one can only marvel at his success which will reverberate well into the future,” McDowell said.

That sentiment was echoed by Francie Ambuske, executive director of the Bradford Hospital Foundation.

“He and (his wife Pauline “Boots” Higie) have always been supportive of the hospital and our fundraising efforts,” Ambuske said. “Their most recent gift, he named the same day surgery suite in honor of Boots. That was very sweet.”

She said the couple was always very dedicated to health care, and were always very generous.

“He represents an era of the gentlemen,” Ambuske said, “the professionals who were the community leaders and loved it so much they stayed on in advisory capacities and served long beyond their scheduled work.”

Regarding the couple, she said, “When you think of them, you think of Bradford. He was an elder statesman. If he had a conviction, you know. He was one who truly had his own voice and carried it proudly.”

McKean County Judge Chris Hauser, who went to school with Higie’s children, and worked with him in a professional capacity as attorneys, also commented.

“When I went to law school, he was one of the persons who wrote letters on my behalf,” Hauser said, explaining Higie was an alum as well.

“Bill was a stickler,” he said, explaining Higie was the corporate attorney for Forest Oil. “I remember my first real estate transaction with him. There was more red ink on it than black when it came back to me.”

With a laugh, the judge said, “He was very particular about things. As an attorney, he taught me I should be careful. I should be thoughtful. And it should be done right.”

Hauser added, “I’m sorry to hear that he passed.”

Higie’s friend Howard Fesenmyer mentioned, “He was a great advocate for the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. He was very much interested in the community. And he loved The Bradford Era.

“He was a good friend and I’m going to miss him.”