Services Sunday at Rice Mortuary for Donald Charles Liebson

A memorial service for Manhattan Beach resident Donald Charles Liebson, 58, who died at home on July 6, will be held on Sunday at 10 a.m. at Rice Mortuary, 5310 Torrance Blvd., Torrance.

Liebson is survived by his wife Susan and sons Kevin, Brian and Jason, his brother Rick, sister Ellen, and father Milt.

Liebson was born in New York City on Dec. 27, 1952, and grew up in New Jersey, according to the mortuary's website. He earned a bachelor's and master's degree from the Maxwell School of Business at Syracuse University and a master's and an Executive MBA from the Peter F. Drucker Graduate Management Center of the Claremont Graduate School, according to a 1997 Los Angeles Times article on trends and tech careers. Liebson was profiled because he owned a FutureKids franchise in Manhattan Beach. He sold the franchise in 2001 and retired, according to his bio on the POPS website.

Prior to moving to Manhattan Beach in the early 1990s to relocate with his new wife, an L.A. lawyer, he was a Chicago-based executive in the energy industry and had worked in the automotive field. He created and owned several businesses in data and communications.

Liebson was an active volunteer at Vistamar School, Temple Shalom of the South Bay, and for Puttin' On Productions, a local youth theater company, where he was the chairman of the board of directors. He was a founding member of the temple and served on its board.

In retirement, he has been a consultant, web developer and instructor for the University of Phoenix.

"Don contributed umpteen hours putting together our playbills, website and laying the foundation for what we all know as POPs today, wrote POPs board member Julia Mirkovich in an e-mail announcing his death. "His and Susan's efforts were the glue that held POPs together during very difficult times and much of what the company is today is because of Donald Liebson and his pioneering leadership. Donald touched so many lives and was known for bringing people together, so much in fact that he earned the nickname, the Networking King. 

The e-mail continued, "But I would say his greatest contribution to this world was the tapestry he weaved from his most important and recognizable roles in life as a loving husband, father and friend. He was exemplary in all three areas and I, along with many of you, learned from him constantly. He sewed this magic quilt of life with threads of people he has touched and brought together, and now he leaves behind this legendary blanket to keep his family wrapped in warmth, love and laughter in his absence." 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his honor to Puttin' On Productions, P.O. Box 397, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266, or Vistamar School, 737 Hawaii St., El Segundo, CA 90245.