Come Celebrate the Lives of Judith & Gerson Leiber

COME CELEBRATE THE LIVES AND WORKS OF

JUDITH AND GERSON LIBRARY

AT THE EAST HAMPON LIBRARY

East Hampton, NY - On June 23 at 1 PM, the East Hampton Library will host a celebration of the lives and works of Judith and Gerson Leiber. The Leibers each died on April 28, 2018. They were both ill. Judith was 97 and Gerson was 96. Gerson had stood over Judith’s bed the night before their deaths and whispered, “Sweetie, I think it’s time for both of us to go.” Later, in the early morning hours of the next day, he died five-and-half hours before Judith breathed her last breath. It seemed as if they had willed their nearly simultaneous departures. They had lived their lives of mutual support and that mutuality continued to the end of their marriage of true minds, which is what Judith and Gerson Leiber shared for more than 72 years. Theirs was, indeed, such a marriage, for each of them complemented and supported the other. With Gerson’s urging, Judith established the Judith Leiber Company, which produced the most artful handbags the world has ever beheld. And with Judith’s support, Gerson became the acclaimed modernist painter that he was.

The program will begin with a recounting of their lives by Leiber biographer, Jeffrey Sussman. He will be followed by Ann Stewart, curator of the Leiber Collection, who will discuss the artistic aspect of Judith’s handbags and Gerson’s paintings. Throughout there will be photos of their works and video clips of the Leibers.

The East Hampton Library is located at 159 Main Street in East Hampton. For further information, please email Steven Spataro at steven@easthamptonlibrary.org or phone 631-324-0222

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