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Ann Tarlowe Lieber
Ann Tarlowe Lieber passed away Saturday, November 16, at her home in Sag Harbor in the presence of family. At 87, she lived to the fullest, was a beloved friend, active Sag Harbor community member, devoted mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and cousin. She is survived by her children Barry Lieber, Wendy Zingher, Valerie Lieber and Michael Lieber; her sister Diana Turner, seven grandchildren and one great granddaughter. The funeral was held at Temple Adas Israel on Tuesday.
A substitute teacher at Pierson Middle/High School until early October, she adored the students, and was deeply committed to their success. Known as a smart dresser and consummate professional, fellow teachers and members of the administration referred to her as “legendary at Pierson” according to Principal Carriero. Lieber subbed almost daily for the last 20 years after moving full time to Sag Harbor from Indianapolis, Indiana.
Lieber worked at the Sag Harbor Custom House for 39 years as a docent and then coordinator. She loved the history of Sag Harbor and the United States. She enjoyed meeting those taking tours, and delighted in bringing people back in time to Henry Packer Dering’s world.
Lieber volunteered as an usher at Bay Street Theater and was elected to the John Jermain Memorial Library Board for two terms. She lived for the now defunct annual Library House Tour for which she recruited homeowners to show their homes.
Lieber volunteered for many years as an Election Day poll worker and loved seeing everyone vote at the fire station on Brick Kiln Road. She was an avid fan of the Sag Harbor Community Band’s Tuesday concerts. She would go weekly, often with her dog.
Lieber was a voracious reader - the New York Times daily over breakfast; the local papers every Thursday, and many novels,biographies and histories.
Every sunny day in summer Lieber was at Sagg Main Beach in Sagaponack with her wide circle of friends. In the past two summers she was more often at Long Beach in Noyack where it was easier to get in the water.. The beach was her happy place. She enjoyed the sun, the water and the sand. She always brought a book or the New York Times; however, she rarely was able to read because she was perpetually engaged in conversation with her many friends.
Born in the Bronx in 1937, she was raised by her parents Joseph Tarlowe, an attorney, and Beatrice Tarlowe, a high school language teacher, who came to Sag Harbor starting in the early 1940’s.
She graduated from the Dalton School in 1954 and from the University of Michigan in 1958 with a BA in History. It was there that she met Ronald Lieber who was a law student. They married just months after she graduated and they moved to Indianapolis. She went to work teaching middle school and worked toward a Master’s Degree in American History at Butler University. She stopped working to raise her four children.
In 1973 after hearing Ann wax nostalgic about Sag Harbor, Ann and Ron came to the East End while on a trip to New York City. Seeing that the village was just as wonderful as she remembered from her childhood summers spent on Prospect Street, the next summer Ann and Ron and the 4 kids started coming to Sag Harbor. She and Ron eventually purchased a house in Redwood in 1984.
When the time was right, she and Ron “retired” to Sag Harbor. The truth is, Lieber only retired October 11, 2024 when she was no longer able to effectively teach.
Her husband Ron passed away in 2006, and after grieving him deeply she bounced back with energy and purpose and lived with incredible vitality. People could always count on getting birthday cards and holiday cards every year from Ann. She was generous with gifts, conscientious about correspondence and fiercely loyal to friends, cousins, nieces and nephews. She was a consummate host, cooking new and old recipes, always trying new ones she cut from the New York Times.
When she learned that she had a large aggressive tumor in her brain which was limiting her ability to communicate well, she knew exactly what she wanted to do: Be in Sag Harbor in her beloved home, and accept what fate had bestowed her. She was determined to call everyone dear to her and let them know her condition and express how much she cared for them. She made many many phone calls, was very loving, and received so much love back. Over the weeks of her decline, she was surrounded by friends and family and an outpouring of affection and appreciation.
Ann spent her final days and weeks in her beloved Sag Harbor home with dozens of visitors and phone calls. They all brought out her 120 watt smile.
Donations in her memory can be made to the John Jermain Library, The Pierson PTSA or East End Hospice.
Staff Writer on Nov 19, 2024