Annabel G. Liebelt Ph.D.

Annabel G. Liebelt, Ph.D, Distinguished Scientist, Community Volunteer, and Mother

Our Mom, Annabel G. Liebelt, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, passed away September 10, 2012, in Durham, North Carolina at the age of 86. She was born June 27, 1926, in Tacoma Park, Maryland. Preceding her in passing were her parents, Henley and Otto Glockler, and her brothers, Ralph and Walter Glockler.

Annabel earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Western Maryland College and her Ph.D. in Microscopic Anatomy from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. She had a distinguished academic career in the field of animal cancer research that spanned three different medical schools. As Professor of Anatomy, she was recognized as an outstanding teacher and instrumental in developing the Microscopic Anatomy Teaching Program at the Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine (NEOUCOM) [now MEDCO]. She finished her career as an Expert and Guest Researcher at the Registry of Experimental Cancers at the National Cancer Institute of the National Institute's of Health. Her scholarly contributions included over 70 scientific papers and book chapters in the field of animal cancer research and transplantation. Her leadership of the Kirschbaum Memorial Mouse Colony contributed to its national and international recognition as a resource for rodent cancer research and followed her career in three states until its final donation to the the Kagawa Medical School in Japan in 1982.

Sharing her gifts of time and talent with many organizations as a volunteer was Annabel's passion. She volunteered in numerous capacities with Asbury Methodist Village School of Continuing Education, Asbury Villas, Gaithersburg Presbyterian Church, Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College), AAUW (American Association of University Women), NARFE (National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association). In 1991, she was awarded one of two Trustee Alumni Awards from Western Maryland College and in 2005 inducted into the Maryland Senior Citizens Hall of Fame for her outstanding voluntary services to her community. When her children were younger she was actively involved in their educational lives, scouting, and supported their many extra-curricular activities.

Annabel leaves her children and grandchildren to mourn her passing and celebrate her life: son, Dr. Ralph Liebelt and his wife Marie of Durham, North Carolina; daughter, Laurie Curfman and her husband Scott Curfman of Akron, Ohio; daughter, Dr. Erica Liebelt of Birmingham, Alabama; and daughter, Nancy Guthrie and her husband Bob of Perry, Ohio; grandchildren, Rebecca (Jim) Filkorn, James Marunich, Daniel Marunich, Andrew Liebelt, Maura Marunich, Stephen Liebelt, Bradley Guthrie, Alex Guthrie, and Ethan Guthrie.

Additionally, she leaves many dear relatives and friends across the country and especially at Asbury Methodist Village, Gaithersburg Presbyterian Church, and McDaniel College.

Her life and memory will be celebrated on Saturday, October 6, 2012, 2 p.m. at Gaithersburg Presbyterian Church. Inurnment will follow at the Gaithersburg Presbyterian Church Columbarium and Memorial Garden, 610 South Frederick Avenue, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20877.

Memorial contributions may be made to Gaithersburg Presbyterian Church's Memorial Fund, 610 South Frederick Avenue, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20877, or McDaniel College for the Annabel Glockler Liebelt Scholarship Fund, C/O McDaniel College, Two College Hill, Westminster, MD, 21157. Correspondence to the family may be sent c/o Nancy Guthrie, 2857 S. Ridge Road, Perry, OH 44081.