Minna Lieberman Obituary

Minna Sue Lieberman Minna Lieberman, always smart and sharp, died in her home early morning Jan. 31, with her sister and her beloved border collie Theo at her side. Although in her final days she was devastated by a ferocious cancer, she remained an adoring aunt and niece, a loving friend, a loyal sports-fan and an unforgettably strong-willed woman.
Born in Brooklyn, NY, she grew up in a multi-generational household, where her parents and grandparents alike admired her keen intelligence and athletic grace. She was proudly left-handed, a precocious student who earned scholarships from New York University as well as New York State. She worked part-time jobs all through college, played girls' varsity basketball for NYU, and in her senior year was not only elected to Phi Beta Kappa, but won special recognition - including a newspaper story in the New York Daily News - as the Student Athlete With the Highest Average.
She took dual majors in Math and English, and went on, after school, to work in the then brand-new high-tech industry, and later for the City of New York. She worked for IBM for about 20 years, during which she added a UC Berkeley MBA to her academic credentials, and moved coast-to-coast several times. Afterward, she became a cookware/knife expert; in many ways, the sharing of information, on any subject, was the job best suited to her. She volunteered at the Marine Mammal Center and the de Young Museum, and worked monthly as a ticket-taker for the dance club Futura.
She was a passionate photographer whose work was shown at the ACCI Gallery in Berkeley.
But with all her brain power and creativity, perhaps her greatest talent was for friendship. As she grew older, she stood by friends, enjoying good times and helping them through hard ones. Special affection went to Helen Montemorano and Jane Worthington, both of whom died in the '90s, and to the living friends who were so much part of her thoughts during her final days: Rose, Claudia, Michael, Jeanne, Sheila, Elizabeth.
She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Leah and Jerry Garchik, her nephews Sam and Jacob, both of whom she taught to ride bicycles and drive cars, and her service dog, Theo. A Feb. 17 gathering in her memory is being organized by Leah Garchik, who may be called for more information.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by San Francisco Chronicle from Feb. 1 to Feb. 3, 2013.

Memories and Condolences
for Minna Lieberman

7 Entries

Rose Rosen

January 26, 2019

Ms. Lola and I miss you and Theo so very much.
This home is not the same without you two.
FYI Alan is back home.
Every year I light a Jahrzeit candle in your memory.

Jean Sarris

February 18, 2013

I have photos of Minna going back over 30 years. She was a regular at our Christmas Open House, and would pose in front of the tree, a tradition.
One of my most vivid memories is going to lunch with Minna at the old Italian restaurant at the gate of Hunter's Point Shipyard, and touring that huge, as yet undeveloped, space, looking at the decaying housing area, and wondering what would come next.
Most of all, I remember Minna's extreme kindness to my husband, George, after his stroke. She was the first person to figure out that, despite dense aphasia, he could read and understand messages printed in large capital letters. She would drop by his shop, help him out a bit, keep him company, and share a joke. She was a good true friend, all of those 9 difficult years.

Susan Margolis Balk

February 11, 2013

Minna, although I didn't know you well, I have vivid memories of your smile and your clear voice.
You were intense, concerned, and warm.
I envied your certainty.
I send to you, and to all those who loved you, sunshine and peace.

February 5, 2013

Minna, I have known you for around fifteen years, and lived with you for five years on Russian Hill. Five years later you shared my home with me for another five years. Then you built your own place down stairs and we planned to enjoy our retirement together. I loved your creative and different perspective on what life dishes out to us, good and bad. Goodbye my good friend,
you taught me much. All my love............rose

Katherine Esmay

February 4, 2013

Years ago, Minna generously shared her Nob Hill apartment with me at a time when I needed and appreciated that kindness.
She was always a person to ask for information....on any subject; it was amazing.
What I will remember is her quick wit...followed by an appreciative laugh as her listener got her jokes or shared her observations.

Go in peace, dear Minna.

February 4, 2013

I came to know Minna in her later years when I thought it would not be possible to find such a good friend. With our similar backgrounds, common interests, nonstop conversation and shared senses of humor, we enjoyed each other's company. I will miss you, Minna. I had hoped for more years of the same.

Perry-Lynn Moffitt

February 1, 2013

I have always admired people who are eager to live with very smart dogs. Minna earned my admiration by sharing her life with a clever mutt and a couple of border collies, a breed with tremendous social learning skills, deep memories, and an uncanny ability to "read" their humans' emotions and needs. It takes an intelligent, strong- willed person to love and accept a smart dog. Thank you to Minna, for demonstrating this remarkable relationship, and, by her example, encouraging my family to take the plunge with a truly great--and smart--poodle.

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