Thomas Robert Liebermann (“Tom”) of Gloucester, Massachusetts died Tuesday after a recurrence of pancreatic cancer. He was 64.
Tom was born to the late Andrew and Bella Liebermann, November 22, 1949, in Arad, Romania. He emigrated to Israel with his family at age 14, and on to the United States, alone, at age 16. He graduated from Brookline High School in 1968 and received three degrees from the University of Pennsylvania – a B.S. civil engineering and a B.A. in sociology in 1972 and a MBA from The Wharton School in 1975. While at UPENN, Tom was instrumental in helping his parents and his sister immigrate to the United States. He married Ruth Kawecki Liebermann in 1979 and they lived together in Columbus, Indiana, Amstelveen, Netherlands and Boston, Massachusetts before settling in Gloucester, Massachusetts in 1985.
Tom is survived by his wife, Ruth, 63, of Gloucester, Massachusetts, his two children, Ethan Kawecki Liebermann, 31, of Boston, Massachusetts and Nyssa Kawecki Liebermann, 28, of Los Angeles, California, his sister, Julie Peretz, 56, of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, his uncle, Erwin Schachter of Marlton, New Jersey and many other loving family members and friends. Tom put family before all else, always insisting on bringing the extended family together for holiday meals, vacations, celebrations, and pure quality time. His proudest accomplishment was raising his two children into what they are today. He cherished the moments when they asked for this counsel and advice and rejoiced in watching the two kids and their friends blossom into accomplished, compassionate young adults.
In addition to being a loving husband, father, son, and brother, Tom was an accomplished turnaround executive – a “serial re-entreprenuer” – to use his words. He held executive leadership positions as CEO, President, Chairman, Board Member, Operating Partner and senior manager at CLIMAX Portable Machine Tools, Thermacore, Pancon, Zentech, Argosy Capital Partners, Milestone Partners, NewSpring Capital, Executive Resources International, HR Insourcing, Phillips Screw Company, MobileToys, Advanced Frequency Products, Kaye Instruments, Thermal Scientific, Indivers NV and Cummins Engine Company.
Outside of the office, Tom held leadership positions in the Young Presidents Organization and was a member of the Chief Executives Organization and World President Organization. He was a star soccer player for Penn’s Ivy League championship team in 1971, earning first-team All-Ivy League honors and scoring 54 points during his distinguished three-year varsity career. Later he played three years of professional soccer in the North American Soccer League as a member of the Boston Minutemen and the Delaware Wings, and he was a member of the 1974 United States World Cup soccer team. Tom was also the Chief Diver for a scientific chamber dive to the US record depth of 1,200 feet for 24 days. He had a passion for travel and exploration, having been to all seven continents and 100 countries, and was fluent in five languages.
Business colleagues, friends and family describe Tom as intense, driven, opinionated, wise, fair, and compassionate. Having lived under communism and socialism in Eastern Europe, Tom was an open and unabashed fan of the United States, free markets, capitalism and the American Dream.
Funeral Service private. A Memorial Observance to be held at Tom’s late residence on Friday from 2-5PM, Saturday 5-8PM and Sunday 12-5PM with a “Minhah” service at 2PM. Relatives and friends invited to attend.
A Celebration of Toms life will be held Saturday, March 29, from 12PM-3PM in the Gloucester area (details to follow).
In lieu of flowers, online donations can be made in memory of Thomas R. Liebermann to the Institute for Pancreatic Cancer Research at Massachusetts General Hospital at www.massgeneral.org/warshawinstitute/support/. Checks must be made payable to Massachusetts General Hospital and can be mailed to: Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund in Memory of Thomas R. Liebermann, c/o MGH Development Office, 100 Cambridge Street, Suite 1310, Boston, MA 02114.