As announced by the trustee, The Honesdale National Bank, the greater Wayne County community will continue to experience the generosity of the beloved Honesdale family for years to come with the launch of and first disbursements of The Robert E. and Leila Stegner Family Foundation.

The Robert E. and Leila Stegner Family Foundation was created by siblings Dr. Robert, Joan and Janet Stegner of Honesdale, Pennsylvania, “in thanksgiving to the people of Wayne County and elsewhere for the support given to J.H. Stegner Grocery Store and Bakery, Robert J. Stegner, DDS, Joan M. Stegner and Janet T. Stegner, private music teachers.” The Foundation was established after the passing of the last surviving sibling, Joan Stegner, on October 7, 2022. The Honesdale National Bank has served as trustee since May 25, 2011. 

The Stegner siblings selected 13 organizations to receive annual donations from their Foundation based upon a set percentage of the minimum distribution requirement for private foundations code established by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The recipient organizations are: Bethany Cemetery; Honesdale Fire Department Hose Company No. 1, Alert Hook & Ladder Co. No. 2, Protection Engine No. 3, and Texas No. 4; Victims Intervention Program; Wayne County Food Pantry; Wayne County Children and Youth; Red Cross, Wayne County chapter; Salvation Army; the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester; Honesdale Ministerium; and the Wayne Memorial Health Foundation.

“It is an honor for HNB to assist in sustaining the memory and impact of the Stegner family for the greater Wayne County community,” said VP, Trust Officer Charles Curtin. “This Foundation is the epitome of a local family demonstrating its gratitude for the services that serve as the backbone for our area and ensuring others have access to those services for years to come.”

The Stegner name is iconic in the Honesdale area. Parents Robert Sr., and Leila Stegner owned and operated the J.H. Stegner Grocery Store and Bakery throughout most of the 20^th Century. Many fondly remember its vast candy selection. Their children, Dr. Robert and twins Joan and Janet, were prominent citizens in their own right. Numerous young students were taught to love the piano by Joan and Janet in the family’s living room, while Dr. Robert tended to the community’s dental needs. A particular delight was to see Joan and Janet, in matching outfits, riding their tandem two-seat bicycle around town, waiving to all.  Although the scene of the three Stegner siblings languidly rocking on their 8^th Street porch swing during long summer days is now just a memory, their generosity lives on.

The Honesdale National Bank, established in 1836, holds the distinction of being the area’s oldest independent community bank headquartered in Northeastern PA, with offices in Wayne, Pike, Susquehanna, Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties.  The Honesdale National Bank offers personal banking, business banking and wealth solutions. HNB is a Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender with NMLS ID # 446237.