. . above: Dr. Gillette’s statue being unveiled (Her former home and office is on the far left; sculptor Dexter Benedict on far right.) . .
Schenectady dedicated a new landmark to Elizabeth Van Rensselaer Gillette, M.D., on Friday, August 21, 2026. A statue was unveiled at the southeast corner of Union St. and Erie Boulevard that celebrates her life and that will help ensure Dr. Gillette’s story is honored by, and continues to inspire, generations of Schenectadians.
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Dr. Gillette was surely one of the City’s most accomplished and beloved residents. Three plaques at the site outline her life and deeds, from being the first female surgeon in Schenectady, and the first woman outside of New York City elected to the New York State Assembly (before she even had the right to vote), to helping to found the Schenectady Humane Society, as part of her lifelong commitment to protecting and assisting poor and neglected children:
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You can read more about Dr. Gillette in an article on the Schenectady County Historic Society weblog, “Elizabeth Gillette, Schenectady’s First Woman Surgeon” (March 26, 2020, by Gail Denison). Also, see the Daily Gazette article “Statue honors trailblazer near her former practice” (Aug.24, 2026).
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. These panels from a sign at the unveiling ceremony give a few more details about “Bessie” Gillette.
As renowned as Dr. Gillette was in some City and County circles, many current day Schenectady residents did not know her name or story until the recent efforts to have a statue in. her honor, even if they had heard the building at S. College and Union Street called the Gillette Building. The new article from the Electric City Community Grocery, “Celebrating Dr. Elizabeth Gillette–and the Community That Brought Her Story to Life”, in The Beet: Food for Thought (August 2026), tells of the many segments of our community that worked together to “bring her story to life.”
There were 10 speakers at the podium before the statue was unveiled, each emphasizing a particular part of Dr. Gillette’s life they wanted to recall and memorialize. This Slideshow has images of the 10 speakers and notes their affiliation.
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Often repeated themes were Elizabeth Gillette’s pioneering work as a woman in medicine, as a woman active in political life, and as a leader serving children in need and their families. Her example and inspiration are still felt across our community.
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above: FRANK WICKS (L) and BRIAN MERRIAM have spearheaded the process bringing a series of statues to Downtown Schenectady honoring remarkable Schenectady residents, culminating in the Gillette statuary.
[L: Sculpting “Bessie”] Their efforts, with the help of many donors and interested community members and leaders, resulted in Scultor DEXTER BENEDICT being commissioned to produce, in addition to the Elizabeth Gillette statue, statues of Thomas Alva Edison and Charles Proteus Steinmetz, Harriet Tubman and William Seward. You can see images and information on each of the Schenectady statues through links on the Commissioned Works page Mr. Benedict’s website.
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Finally, one of the favorite parts of my photo-shoots at public events is seeing and capturing the faces I see there. Spike, seen to the right of this paragraph with Dr. Gillette’s medial bag, gave me a big smile, as did faces like these, which I am pleased to share.
. . Mayor Gary McCarthy
. . County Legislator Michelle Ostrelich mesmerized
. . Phil Steck and Sylvie Briber enjoying remarks by Gloria Kishton, while Brian daydreams
. then, Sylvie and Gloria seriously
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. . Laura Lee & Linda Wicks with big smiles of their own at the end of the event
. .Elizabeth Walsh and Nina Zegger glad to be there 
. . and, various audience members (including Bob Lemmerman in the blue cap) paying attention:
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. and a smile from Gloria . 
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suns along the Mohawk 
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