Victor Lieber

Victor Lieber April 24, 1929 - July 24, 2016

Victor Lieber, 87, of Los Angeles, California, passed away peacefully on Sunday July 24, 2016 in his home from medical complications of Alzheimer’s type dementia.

Victor was born April 24, 1929 in Brooklyn, New York to Emanuel “Al” Lieber and Anne (Geller) Lieber. In spite of limited financial resources his family encountered during the Great Depression, his academic talents enabled him to attend Brooklyn Technical High School, one of New York City’s most prestigious specialized high schools. Along with his high school diploma, he graduated Brooklyn Tech with an associate degree in aeronautical engineering.

Based on his meteorological knowledge, Victor decided, at the age of 19, that Southern California might prove to be a more ideal place to live based on the sunny climate. He moved west on his own and later convinced both of his parents and his sister, Gloria, to join him in Los Angeles.

In November 1950, having settled his family, Victor Lieber enlisted into the US Air Force, where during the Korean War he was stationed in Germany serving as a meteorologist, eventually rising to the rank of Staff Sergeant, and having earned the National Defense Service Medal, and a Good Conduct Medal. He liked to say that he was the only enlisted airman who could close down an airport based on his weather predictions. His service to country ended with an Honorable discharge in September 1954.

Victor then took advantage of his G.I. Bill benefits to attend the University of California, where he met his wife-to-be, Madeleine Gilmore, while playing contract bridge. They were married on December 26, 1959 by Rabbi William Kramer of Temple Israel of Hollywood, California. In 1961, Victor would complete his study towards the first of two Master’s degrees - a Master of Arts in Art, focusing on ceramics.

Victor and Madeleine would have three children, Eli in 1962, Pamela in 1964, and Adam in 1969.
With his degree in ceramics, and engineering background from high school, Victor became a draftsman and worked in ceramics engineering. Victor would attempt to complete a Masters in Engineering, but found more success, after earning a teaching credential, as a high school teacher of both pottery and mathematics with the Los Angeles Unified School District.

With the support of his wife, Victor earned a second Masters in Arts in Education, Educational Psychology, Counseling and Guidance from California State University, Northridge in 1978. He continued his career with the Los Angeles Unified School District as an Educational Psychologist, working with adolescents
Victor’s artistic passions never dimmed, and he opened his own pottery studio, first in the family garage, and later outside the home while working as an educator. He would create many pieces for family and friends.
Victor would say that his hands were smarter than he was, and not only would he create many bowls, mugs and other items out of clay, he would ‘engineer’ with any material at hand to improve or create all kinds of useful items for around the home. He successfully patented an improvement to the skimmer that is used to clean swimming pools.

Victor enjoyed coaching his two sons in playing soccer and he helped to establish the soccer program at Birmingham High School in Van Nuys, California where his children attended. He was an amateur sailor, and for a time owned a small sailboat named the ‘Clay Dove’, after his first pottery studio.
Victor and Madeleine’s marriage came to an end, but both continued a commitment to being loving parents and later grandparents. Victor then entered a long-term friendship with a fellow school psychologist, Marianna Stevens.

Growing up in New York City, Victor preferred quieter locales to urban life, and after retiring, he would eventually move to the mountains where he lived in both Big Bear and Wrightwood, California. Later, although he enjoyed driving, Victor would move to a retirement village in Camarillo, California to be closer to friends and family, including his sister Gloria and her husband Bud Bradley.

In Victor’s later years he loved being a grandfather. His playful sense of humor often led him to be the unintentional source of many funny stories. The highlight of his 75th birthday party was a ‘roast’ where family and friends recalled many humorous incidents with Victor. He said he always wanted to make people laugh and in the end he didn’t disappoint.

Victor Lieber is survived by his children Eli (Teresa), Pamela, and Adam (Michelle), his grandchildren Alina, David and Sam, his sister Gloria Bradley (Bud), and long-time friend Marianna Stevens.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations honoring Victor Lieber made to Juvenile Diabetes (www.jdrf.org), Alzheimer's Association (www.alz.org), or The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (www.michaeljfox.org).

Memorial Services were held at Angeleno Mortuary on August 1, 2016, with the Burial Service taking place at Riverside National Cemetery on August 2, 2016. Thank you for your expressions of condolence.