Above all else, Dr. Sheldon Lee Leibowitz loved spending time with his family and friends, says his son, Sam Leibowitz.
“Whether it was weekday family dinners, Friday night Shabbat dinners, dining out with friends or even just spontaneous visits by his children or grandchildren, my father would give his full attention with his piercing blue eyes,” he said. “He would nod in acknowledgement, ask some insightful questions, and invariably come up with a great one-liner and flash a big smile.
“I’m sure what we’ll all miss the most is my father’s smile.”
A Baltimore native and optometrist in the community for six decades, Dr. Leibowitz passed away on July 18. The Pikesville resident was 91.
“He was kind,” eulogized Beth El Congregation’s Rabbi Dana Saroken at Dr. Leibowitz’s funeral at Sol Levinson & Bros. on July 20. “He was never critical, not of anyone or anything. He was totally accepting. He wouldn’t be drawn into talking badly about others. He would either sit quietly or he would leave the room. …
“He was easygoing, and he was selfless,” she said. “He was a nice man.”
Raised in an Orthodox household, Dr. Leibowitz attended the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and Baltimore City College. In 1949, he graduated from the University of Maryland and received his doctorate from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in 1953.
Dr. Leibowitz was a veteran of the Korean War. In 1955, after serving at Aberdeen Proving Ground and Fort Benning in Georgia, he worked for his father’s optical business.
Following his father’s death two years later, he established his own optical business in Baltimore and became a full-time optometrist. He ran two private practices and directed the Maryland Optometric Center, which served low-income families in Baltimore.
To sharpen his professional skills and enhance the care of his patients, Dr. Leibowitz earned several additional degrees from the University of Baltimore, Loyola University and Johns Hopkins University. In 1973, he was recognized as “Maryland Optometrist of the Year” by the Maryland Optometric Association.
Before retiring six years ago, Dr. Leibowitz worked as an optometrist at various retail centers, served as a board member of many organizations, and was involved in local and national optometric associations.
In his spare time, Dr. Leibowitz enjoyed traveling, watching Baltimore’s sports teams, old movies, Broadway shows, reading and being with family.
“When he was younger, he used to love to play football,” said Janet R. Leibowitz (nee Shapiro), his wife of 68 years. “He was very interested in all kinds of music. He loved classical opera. We went to many, many shows, different theaters. We played bridge a lot together. We were bridge partners.
“He loved socializing, and we would love to dance. We even took dancing lessons together,” she said. “He was a workaholic who was committed to everything he did. I never saw him sit down for very long.”
Besides his wife and son, Dr. Leibowitz is survived by his daughters, Fran Leibowitz (Debbie) and Amie Smith (Alan); his sister, Iris Pevner, his grandchildren, Pamela Leibowitz, Larry Leibowitz, Kara Boyd (Danny), Adam Leibowitz, Jennifer Hilton (Tim), Michael Leibowitz, Michelle Smith and Jordan Leibowitz; and his great-grandsons Chase Hilton and Ryder Boyd.
Contributions in Dr. Leibowitz’s memory may be made to the Gilchrist Hospice Care, 11311 McCormick Rd., Suite 350, Hunt Valley, Md. 21031, or a charity of your choice.
Tomer Nusinov is Jmore’s editorial staff intern.
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