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:;)