John Liber

Jack passed away during post surgery at the Cleveland Clinic. He was the son of John Russell Liber and Fanchon Josephine DeVerna of Alliance, Ohio. After riding his horse to a one room schoolhouse for 8 years, he attended Alliance High School, where he has been inducted into the Hall of Fame, and was awarded a football scholarship to Purdue University where he pledged Sigma Alpha Epsilon. He received his JD from The Ohio State University College of Law.
He and Nancy Carolyn Bergren were married on August 30, 1959 in Waukegan, Illinois. He became a partner in the law firm of Manchester, Bennett, Powers & Ullman in Youngstown, Ohio where they had three children: John Russell Liber II, a partner with the Thrasher, Dismore & Dolan Firm; Craig Charles Liber, who is in the Corporate Legal Department of Progressive Insurance; and Shannon Hart Liber, who is Director of Adventure Learning and a Coach at Hathaway Brown School.
The Libers moved to Cleveland when Jack joined, later became the Managing Partner, and then Of Counsel to the Law Firm of Spangenberg, Shibley and Liber. Upon retiring, he was a recognized and honored Mediator and Arbitrator. He joined Shaker Heights Country Club in the late 70's and served many years on its Board. He and Nancy moved to Naples, Florida in 2006 making their home at the The Wilderness Country Club where he served as President for a two year term; they were later joined at the Wilderness by his brother William and his wife Melinda. His other brother, Tom and his wife Stephanie, live in Venice, Florida.
Jack lived a life devoted to Nancy and his family and was an ardent supporter of his eight grandchildrens' many and various endeavors. They are: Douglas Allen, Morgan Elaine, Sydney Anita and Taylor Carolyn, children of John and Carrie Liber; Craig Charles, Jr., Ryleigh Suzanne, and John Douglas II, children of Craig Liber; Trent Michael , son of Shannon Liber and Steven Dennis.
Jack enjoyed sports, especially golf, was always reading, and loved to go to movies and dining with Nancy. They enjoyed traveling, especially visiting his sister, Judith Liber and her husband Zvika Litvak, in Lake Como, Italy.
Jack strongly believed in serving his profession through many legal organizations , giving back to the community by his volunteer positions on many Boards, and being a loyal member of The Church of the Saviour. Some of his positions and honors were: Past President of: The Cleveland Bar Association, The Cleveland Bar Foundation, The Ohio Metropolitan Bar Association, and the Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers. He was a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, having served two consecutive terms as Ohio State Chairman. He was a Fellow and Past President of the International Society of Barristers, an honorary legal organization. One of his most memorable legacies was his creation of the "Education Initiative" which brought members of the Cleveland Bar Association into the Cleveland Public Schools to teach "Street Law". He was a former member of the International Association of Insurance Counsel and the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel. He was invited into membership in Leadership Cleveland and Greater Naples Leadership and served on the St. Matthew's House Board in Naples, FL.
Jack has been honored by his peers and professional colleagues by his selection in every issue of Best Lawyers in America since 1989, as well as being named in Ohio Super Lawyer both as a trial lawyer and a mediator. In June, 1985, Jack was one of a select group of trial lawyers named in a nationwide survey by Town and Country magazine as the "Best Lawyers in the United States". He was also featured in the October 1991, issue of Ohio Law Reporter as one of "Ohio's Winningest Trial Lawyers".
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to The Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Foundation (to further his educational initiative) http://www.clemetrobar.org/Foundation / or The Wilderness Friendship Memorial Fund ( 101 Clubhouse Drive, Naples, FL 34105)
A Memorial Service honoring his life will be held at The Church of the Saviour, 2537 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights, OH, 44118 at 2 P.M. on Thursday, August 1, 2013.





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