Some people are born with a special calling to look out for others and spread unconditional kindness and compassion. Adriane Z. Williams ’01, a beloved member of the Daemen community, was one of those people.
“Adriane loved God, her family, Daemen, and me—in that order,” said Harold ’02, her husband of 43 years. “She walked the talk. She didn’t just talk about doing something. She did something about something,” he said.
Williams died on October 2, 2025, leaving a hole in the hearts of communities across Western New York, while also inspiring them to carry on her legacy of giving and goodness.
One of her passions was ensuring people had food on their tables. “Many times when Adriane was at the grocery store, she would pay for the person’s groceries behind her,” Harold said. “She would have the cashier add it to her bill and didn’t think twice about it. That’s the kind of person she was.”
While Williams’ dedication to equity and accessibility spanned numerous organizations across Western New York, one that was closest to her heart was Daemen’s Campus Care Cupboard—renamed the “Adriane Z. Williams Campus Care Cupboard” in 2019—which she helped establish to provide essential resources to students and community members in need.
“Adriane’s dedication to the Campus Care Cupboard has made a positive impact for so many students in the community. She wanted to help take away some of the students’ stress by providing some essential resources so they could focus on their education,” said Harold. “Adriane inspired our whole family to get involved, and we will continue to shine a light on her beautiful legacy by supporting the Adriane Z. Williams Campus Care Cupboard for generations to come.”
She and Harold raised five children, three of whom are Daemen alums: Corey, Collin, Ashley ’10, Chandler ’12, and Christopher ’13. The Williams family has always been rooted in love and service. “The last thing Adriane and I said to one another was ‘I love you,’” Harold said. “I love you, Adriane Z. Williams,” he added. “I can’t think of a better way to honor her memory than for us to do as she did. She saw a need and that was it. She was off and running.”
The Adriane Z. Williams Campus Care Cupboard relies on donations from the community, including monetary donations to support meal preparation bags and accommodations for those with special dietary needs. For more information, visit daemen.edu.
