Elizabeth “Libby” Hill Carson

OBITUARY

Elizabeth “Libby” Hill Carson, age 98, passed away peacefully in her sleep on July 31, 2026. A beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and mentor, Libby was a force of nature in La Jolla and the greater San Diego community for nearly seventy years. With her boundless energy, quick smile, and signature station wagon with wood-paneled sides (often found in highly creative parking spots), she became a treasured local legend–known for getting things done with grace, humor, determination, and most often a can of Tab in hand.

Born in Des Moines, Iowa, Libby graduated from Vassar College in 1950 and earned her J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1953–one of only five women in her class. She met her husband, Dr. John C. Carson, on a blind date arranged by two former Harvard Medical School classmates: her beloved father, renowned Des Moines pediatrician Lee Forest Hill, M.D., and John’s uncle, Paul Carson, M.D. Though initially reluctant about being set up, they fell deeply in love and married in February 1954. Libby began her career as a Trust Officer at Fidelity-Philadelphia Trust Company and was admitted to both the Iowa and American Bar Associations in 1953, later joining the San Diego County Bar Association in 1962.

The couple moved to La Jolla with their first three children in 1960 when John, a young cardiologist, started his 50-year career at Scripps Memorial Hospital, then on Prospect Street. They bought a Spanish-style home in the Hillside area that they could “barely afford,” where they would live together for over six decades. Two more children born at Scripps completed the family, and Libby became the masterful CEO of a lively household filled with five active children, endless carpools, sports schedules, and a menagerie of dogs and cats. She approached family life the same way she managed everything else–with “full steam ahead” enthusiasm, unflappable calm, and a deep love of chaos done well. Boredom and inactivity were discouraged in the Carson home; Libby’s frequent directive was, “Do something! Go read a book.”

Libby poured her heart and endless energy into San Diego, spending over six decades helping build and lead the community organizations she loved. Appointed by then-Governor Ronald Reagan, she served on the State of California Judicial Selection Committee for San Diego County (1966-1974). She also served as President of the Junior League of San Diego (1967-1968) when her youngest was just two, and chaired the Scripps Memorial Hospital Candlelight Ball the following year.

Always an advocate for local causes, Libby was a founding board member of the UCSD Medical Auxiliary (1967-1970), the University of San Diego School of Law Board of Visitors (since its inception in 1974, becoming Member Emeritus in 2020), LEAD San Diego (1980-1987), the San Diego Community Foundation (1982-1990), and the Friends of Balboa Park (2000-2021). She also served on the boards of the La Jolla Civic Center Corporation (1977-2016), the Guidance Center (1969-1994), Children’s Health Center (1970-1972), and the American Red Cross (1985-1992).

Passionate about education, she was a trustee for Francis Parker School (1969-1984) and La Jolla Country Day School (1982-1985), served on the USD Academic Affairs Committee (1984-1996), sat on numerous committees for the San Diego Unified School District, and led the major fundraising effort to build the Parker Auditorium at La Jolla High School in 1980. Later, she brought her leadership to the Girl Scouts Board Development Committee (2015-2020) and valued her membership in Colonial Dames, Las Patronas, and P.E.O. She was President of The Wednesday Club (1993-1994), where she was particularly proud of establishing a dedicated room for the club’s archives in later years. She remained deeply engaged with the Junior League as a Sustainer for decades, often saying the “cute, bubbly, energetic” members kept her young.

For 26 years, from 1984 to 2010, she worked as a Senior Tax Advisor at H&R Block, becoming their most tenured preparer while still accommodating travels and visits from family. Libby never lost her Iowa roots–she loved buttered corn on the cob, reminisced about working in Henry Wallace’s cornfields as a teenager, and serving as a lifeguard for the local pool at Wakonda Club. The experience served her well when she famously rescued one of her children from rip tides in the surf in La Jolla. She brought a Midwestern work ethic and positive practicality to everything she did. One of her often-repeated sayings was, “If you like where you’ve been, you’ll like where you’re going.”

Libby was predeceased by her husband of 65 years, John, in 2019, and by her sister Charlotte Stickler in 2018. She is survived by her five children: Elizabeth Carson Pastan (Stephen), John Congleton Carson, Jr. (Suki), Lee Hill Carson (Glenna Waterman), David Bradford Carson (Regina), and Barbara Carson Edwards (Scott); 18 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Libby’s legacy is one of joyful service, quiet strength, and fierce love for her family and adopted city. She showed that one could be a devoted wife, a dedicated mother, and a formidable community leader, all with signature flair and grit. In lieu of flowers, and knowing Libby’s passion for improving her community, please consider donating to a local nonprofit organization of your choice in her memory. A celebration of Libby’s wonderful life will be held on Tuesday, January 5, 2027, at 11 a.m. at The Lodge at Torrey Pines. The family wishes to express deep gratitude to her caregivers Eric Young, Maria Becerra-Aguilar, and Patty Aguilar.