Obituary: Gerald Lieberman, 82, Of Weston

WESTON, CT — Gerald Lieberman, 82, of Placitas, New Mexico, formerly a resident of Weston and Westport, passed away at home on April 12th, 2020 after a courageous battle with cancer. Born on April 20th, 1937 in The Bronx, New York, he was academically gifted and went to Yeshiva University, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and Columbia Presbyterian Hospital for his residency.

Dr. Lieberman was a brilliant physician and devoted his early life to medicine, while also helping to raise five children of his own. He first set up his own pediatric office on Whitney Street and then joined Bay Street Pediatrics, both in Westport. After that he later opened Children's Health Services on Goodhill Road in Weston, where he was adored by his many patients, parents, colleagues, and staff. He was a resident of Weston for over twenty years.

Dr. Jerry, as he was known, also had a very dear group of friends from the area, friendships that remained strong throughout his life. He was passionate about taking care of children, gardening, music, art, theater, cooking, and an expanding menagerie of animals over the years, both
domestic and exotic, including a pony that everyone remembers named Honey Bear, who liked to jump over the electric fence to go exploring. The Weston Police Department would routinely call to ask Dr. Lieberman to please come pick up his horse. This quirkiness of spirit often gave him the air of "the absentminded professor" and endeared him even more to those who knew him, especially his young patients.

Always one to embrace new adventures, Jerry spent the next chapter of his life in the Southwest after retiring from his pediatric career of forty years, first in Denver, Colorado, next in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and finally ending up in the beautiful home he cherished in the small community of Placitas, New Mexico with a stunning backdrop of the Sandia Mountains and which he referred to as paradise.

He kept busy volunteering his time, knowledge, and enthusiasm to various organizations that mattered deeply to him. In Colorado, he worked at both The Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster, and the Denver Botanic Gardens. Once he moved to New Mexico, he was tireless in his many volunteer opportunities at Rancho de las Golondrinas, Museum of International Folk Art, Santa Fe Opera, National Park Service Old Santa Fe Trail Building, and Santa Fe Botanical Garden. Mah jongg became a new passion, and he spent many long hours playing with different groups of friends. The years he spent in New Mexico, "The Land of Enchantment" represented to Jerry the very essence of magic and beauty, and it was there that he thrived and became his most authentic self, found true love and happiness, and lived out his dreams.

He is survived by his beloved spouse and loving children, daughter Julie Fairbanks of Fairfield, son Craig Lieberman of Denver, daughter Justine Fink of Westport, son Brett Lieberman of Westport, & daughter Brooke Brennan of Fairfield, son-in-law Don Fairbanks, son-in-law Clifton Fink, daughter-in-law Jennifer Lieberman, and daughter-in-law Laura Brennan. He leaves behind eight grandchildren: Olivia, Emma, Cole, Jackson, Devon, Bryn, Delphine, and Sebastien.

The world has lost a good man, a unique soul, and a true character. Dr. Jerry will be dearly missed by those whose lives he touched.