John Joseph Liberty

1927 - 2017

On May 30, 2017, John Joseph Liberty passed away peacefully at the age of 89. Born in Sacramento, CA on December 14, 1927 to Josephine (Zobac) Liberty and John (Svoboda) Liberty he lived a long and fulfilling life. Ever a believer in the power of education, John graduated from Grant Union High School, went on to get his Bachelor or Arts in Social Science from CSUS and his Masters in Library Science from the University of Denver. His love of books led him to employment at Levinson's Book Store, the California State Library and ultimately joined the faculty of the CSUS Library as a Social Science Reference Librarian. This position suited him well as he loved to help students and also pursued his academic research on far right and far left political groups. He was very proud of his Dissent and Social Change Project bibliography which earned him national recognition. John was active in the Sacramento peace and civil rights movements and remained interested and informed on politics to the very end of his life (including trying to get the Kaiser nurses to talk politics). In his retirement John was able to spend time enjoying movies, playing the clarinet, listening to jazz, reading political news, and doing online research. He supported many humanitarian and civil rights causes throughout his life. John loved to talk, as his friends and family will attest. He wanted to share anything he loved and will be remembered for his persistence on movies that had to been seen, political articles that had to be read, voting that must be done, music that must be heard. He also had a sentimental and playful side, reading books or cartoons in silly voices to his children and grandchildren, drawing cartoon dogs on his homemade birthday cards, searching for chocolate Easter bunnies with sincere faces. He also wrote poetry. John had two daughters with Irma Liberty (divorced), Kristine Elizabeth Liberty (deceased) and Marya Liberty (Robert Dunn). Later in life he had a wonderful relationship with Arlene Levinson (deceased). He loved and was very proud of his two grandchildren, Joseph Edward Liberty Dunn (Casey Rumble) and Rita Meridian Liberty Dunn (Ryan Bieker). A celebration of life will be held later this summer. Please contact Marya Liberty for details.