Skip to main content

Legacy in Action

Posted Tuesday, December 09, 2025

Donor Spotlight

Bob and Maureen Dwyer

When Bob and Maureen “Mo” Dwyer talk about their lives, the conversation always circles back to family. 

Married for more than 50 years, they raised five children and are proud grandparents to 11, including two sets of identical twin boys. “So fun,” Mo says with a smile. 

Their journey to Erie began when Mo, a St. Louis native, left home to attend Georgetown University. “That’s where I met this wonderful person,” she says, looking toward Bob. “And that was the connection that brought us to Erie.” 

This community is where they built a life together, and they are passionate about making it better — for those here now and for all the generations to follow. Through recent and planned giving, the Dwyers have turned this passion into tangible impact.

A Life Intertwined With Hamot 

Mo, a nurse by training, spent nearly 25 years at Hamot. Bob devoted decades as a volunteer, serving as corporator, corporator officer, board member, and ultimately chair of the board. 

“Mo as an employee, me as a volunteer — we’ve both felt deeply connected to Hamot’s mission for decades,” Bob explains. That connection is what keeps their philanthropy close to home. “We feel a responsibility to support health care,” Bob says, “and Hamot has always represented the kind of mission we want to invest in.” Even as Hamot became part of a larger health system, his perspective hasn’t changed. “Hamot joining UPMC does not detract from my belief that members of the local community — those who can afford to do so — should embrace their responsibility to support our health care needs.”

“Mo as an employee, me as a volunteer — we’ve both felt deeply connected to Hamot’s mission for decades. We feel a responsibility to support health care and Hamot has always represented the kind of mission we want to invest in.”

Bob Dwyer

The Roots of Generosity 

Asked who taught them about giving back, both point to their parents. Mo recalls her mother’s service on community boards in St. Louis. “I sort of followed her direction,” she says. “She was very involved with different community activities, and that inspired me.” For Bob, philanthropy was part of the Dwyer family legacy. “It’s been a Dwyer tradition to be engaged in charitable work,” he says. “That’s how Mo and I have spent much of our married life.” Those values have carried into the next generation. Two of their five children live in Erie, and their daughter Liz has become active on local boards. “We really want to role model these values,” Mo explains. “And it’s been gratifying to see our children not only support what we’re doing, but embrace it themselves.”

A Legacy for Erie

In recent years, the Dwyers have been substantial supporters of the UPMC Jameson School of Nursing at UPMC Hamot. “The shortage of nurses seems to grow every year, and the success of that school seems to be above and beyond anyone’s expectations,” Bob says. 

But the Dwyers’ giving is not limited to today. By including Hamot Health Foundation in their estate plans, they’ve joined the 1881 Circle, a special program that recognizes donors making a lasting impact through planned giving. 

Through their estate gift, the Dwyers are ensuring that their support will continue to benefit the community for generations. A key focus of their planned giving is advancing health, especially for those who are less fortunate. 

“We both feel very blessed — with our health, our children, our grandchildren,” Mo reflects. “Because of that, we’re able to give back with both our time and resources.” Bob adds, “A lot of life is having positive purposes. And what better purpose than to give back if you’re able to?”

An Invitation to Others 

Through their planned giving to HHF, the Dwyers are extending the generosity that has defined their lives, creating a legacy that will continue to benefit Erie for generations. Their philanthropy is deeply personal — an investment in the community where their children and grandchildren will build their own lives. 

Donors like Bob and Mo Dwyer embody what the 1881 Circle stands for — using their resources and values to invest in a healthier, more vibrant future for the community they love. And, they hope, inspiring others to do the same. “If we could encourage at least one person or one couple to take the leap and do this, that would be a wonderful accomplishment,” Mo says. 

A New Circle of Meaning 

Named for the year Hamot Hospital first opened its doors, the 1881 Circle is HHF’s newly reimagined Heritage Society. It honors those who include Hamot Health Foundation in their estate and long-term giving plans. 

HHF Development Coordinator Shawn Bednard describes it as “a way for donors to stake claim in the evolution of the future, ensuring that the Erie they’ve enjoyed will continue to advance into a haven of health and prosperity.” 

For the Dwyers, this motivation is simple: “Erie’s been good to us. Hamot’s been good to us. So, it’s time to give back.”

More Impact Stories