Obituaries

Obituaries are updated regularly and archived on JN Online:
www.detroitjewishnews.com

The

An

MusicMan

Symphony Orchestra, he played in all
the clubs."
Mr. Leib bemoaned the decrease of
live orchestral music and opportunities
for musicians since the musical heyday
of his youth, said his grandson, Lesley
Winograd of West Bloomfield.
"He was modest," said his grandson.
"If you'd ask him, he would matter-of-
factly talk of the celebrities he had
known. I just recently learned that Bill
"Bojangles" Robinson entertained at his
bachelor party.
"He told stories about the various big
shots — Sinatra, Jerry Lewis, Joan
Rivers, Liberace — all the acts that
would come to Pine Knob. He had defi-
nite opinions about who the nice people
were and who the stuck-up, egotistical
stars were, all based on whether they
acknowledged the orchestra and gave
them credit."
Nederlander remembers Mr. Leib's
gregarious side. "Max was a horseplayer,
the world's worst handicapper," he said.
"'Losing builds character,' Max always
said. His nephew, Mel Allen (the New
York Yankee broadcaster), got him a box
at the Kentucky' Derby and Max
renewed it every year. I went to the
Derby with him for about 10 years.
"Mel Allen came in whenever the
Yankees played here. Max would take
Joe DiMaggio out with Mel. He'd take
them to the best deli. They enjoyed
Max. He knew everybody.
Max Leib is survived by his wife,
Annette Leib; daughter and son-in-law
Bobbie and Morley Winograd of
Arcadia, Calif.; son Allan Leib of
Berkley; grandchildren Lesley and
Shelley Winograd, Randy and Patti
Winograd, Jennifer Winograd and Scott
Fudal,. and. Marc Lampcov; great-grand-
daughter Caroline Winograd.
Mr. Leib was the beloved husband of
the late Isabel Leib and the late Lillian
Leib, and the loving father of the late
Edythe Lampcov.
Interment was at Beth Abraham
Cemetery. A memorial service will be
arranged at a later date. Contributions
may be made to a charity of one's
choice. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel. CI

Max Leib

DAVID SACHS
StaffWriter

1ff

ax Leib, a Detroit musical
institution who booked
musicians for the Fisher
Theatre pit orchestra and
other Nederlander shows for the past 45
years, died May 25.
Mr. Leib, of Southfield, was so highly
regarded in the field that he continued
to serve the Nederlanders until his death
from cancer at age 89, booking musi-
cians through the current Fisher season.
"Shows don't travel with a full orches-
tra," said Joe Nederlander. "They travel
with the key men and hire 15 or 20
locally. We had such great musicians,
and Max knew who they were.
"Richard Rodgers said Max was the
finest musical contractor in America.
Rodgers cared about his music. He
would sit in the back and could spot
musicians who couldn't cut it,"
Nederlander said.
"Rodgers always made sure Max Leib
was here. Henry Mancini and Rick
Loewe — everybody asked for Max."
Mr. Leib was an accomplished violin-
ist. In 1925, at age 15, he started play-
ing with a radio orchestra and backing
up silent movies at the Adams Theatre.
Shirl Harris, director of public rela-
tions for the Fisher and Masonic the-
aters, said, "Max was kind and gentle,
very much a musician. He loved music
and loved his musicians, so when he
became the musical contractor he was
extremely protective of them.
"In his early background, he played
all over the city of Detroit. He was with
WJR [Radio], he was with the Detroit

6/2

. 1

11°°°

1.A•sz.2, c , ,

!

11111 •

t

•

,

.

•

A •

• .

3",4734f'1/4

.4

-

-

!

Harbor Light Mission in Detroit
and recently trained with CASA, a
project of the National Council of
Jewish Women, to be a court-
appointed special advocate for chil-
dren.
A political science graduate of
Wayne State University,
Mrs. Liberson remained
committed. Husband Bill
Liberson noted, "She was
very much involved in
current affairs and
responsive in areas that
were not being champi-
oned by others."
She corresponded fre-
quently with Senators
DAVID SACHS
Spencer Abraham and
Staff Writer
Carl Levin, Rep. Joe
Knollenberg, U.S.
nnette
Secretary of State
Liberson
Madeleine Albright and
Annette Liberson
was
Amnesty International on
involved
a wide variety of social
— with her family,
justice, foreign policy and
friends, the community and the hot
environmental issues.
issues of the day.
One thing she felt lacking from
"Whatever she did, she did with
her own childhood was a Hebrew
enthusiasm," said longtime friend
education. She saw to it that her
Ruth Tobias of West Bloomfield.
daughters went to United Hebrew
"That was her nature. What she
Schools or Hillel Day School of
did, she did with her whole heart."
Metropolitan Detroit. She fre-
Annette Liberson, 72, of
quented Jewish study groups like
Bloomfield Hills, died suddenly
Eilu v'Eilu.
May 27 of a pulmonary embolism.
Last November, the Libersons
Family friend Rabbi Herbert
celebrated their 50th wedding
Yoskowitz of Adat Shalom
anniversary. Rabbi Yoskowitz noted
Synagogue spoke at her funeral the
at the funeral, "I have not seen a
next day at Ira Kaufman Chapel.
long-term love affair that was ever
"She had a zest for everything,
the equal or the better of yours."
she had adventure for life," the
Mrs. Liberson's affiliations
rabbi said. "Every night she would
included Deborah Group
find something else to do that gave
Hadassah, Women's American
her an interest in life, something
ORT, Adat Shalom Synagogue, the
cultural, something reflective."
Quarter Century Club of the
Observed Ruth Tobias, "She was
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
a wonderful friend. She had the
Detroit, Brandeis University
capacity to bring people to her. She
National Women's Committee and
loved people and they sensed that. I
the Music Study Club, among
bet there are a lot of people who
other organizations.
would say that they were her best
Mrs. Liberson is survived by her
friend.
husband, Bill Liberson; daughters
"She needed to give of herself to
and sons-in-law Louise and Dr.
the community and to other peo-
Neil Granader of San Jose, Calif.,
ple," she added. "She was very
Alice Liberson of Newton, Mass.,
involved with Hadassah and gave a
Beth and Avi Brandvain of
great deal of her time and energy."
Farmington Hills; grandchildren
Mrs. Liberson volunteered twice
Yaniv, Ilan, Oren and Erez
a week as a literacy tutor in the
Brandvain.
Pontiac area, teaching children
interment was at Adat Shalom
reading and study skills. She also
Memorial Park. Contributions may
served as a substance abuse coun-
be made to Hadassah or Hillel Day
selor at the Salvation Army's
School. 0

4

Interest
In
Life

A

J, .

•

1:;)