[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 69 (Friday, April 10, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E358-E359]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     REMEMBERING AND CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF SAMUEL LEWIS LIEBERMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DINA TITUS

                               of nevada

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 10, 2020

  Ms. TITUS. Madam Speaker, I rise to remember and celebrate the life 
of a dear friend, Sam Lieberman.
  First, let me say how honored I am today to speak in memory of a fine 
man, Sam Lieberman, and in celebration of his remarkable life. I want 
to thank Clifton Whitehurst, who I know was like a brother to Sam and 
such an amazing caregiver, Rabbi Mintz who inspires us all with her 
grace and wisdom, and Sam's mother Sara from whom he inherited so many 
admirable qualities.
  I first met Sam at UNLV in the mid-eighties when he took a political 
science class from me. He soon became more than just a student passing 
through. He loved to tell how I threw an eraser at him one time when he 
fell asleep in class and how I told him he'd have made an A if he 
hadn't napped through half my lectures--but that is just urban myth. 
Sam was really a good student, though in no hurry to graduate, a 
political junkie, and, I soon learned, a die-hard Democrat.
  Along with several other students, Sam is pictured in a political 
brochure from my first election to the State Senate. And he spent many 
a Saturday in my garage handing out walking packets and directing 
volunteers.
  Sam's diligence and hard work for lots of candidates were rewarded 
when the Democratic Party elected him Chair from 2008 to 2011. From 
that position he led the party through some rough patches and some 
incredible victories. And what fun we had in Tonopah at central 
committee meetings and especially at the Democratic Convention. Sam was 
always there: tending to business, helping others, and moving us all in 
the right direction. He did it with humor, with steadfastness, and with 
compassion.
  He brought those same traits to his position as Regent--and I think 
he got a chuckle out of now being my boss. He believed so strongly in 
the value of education and fought to extend its reach to disadvantaged 
communities. He never let his own disability get in the way--he was 
everywhere--ball games, regent meetings, public addresses. Everybody 
knew and loved Sam.
  I also saw Sam in Washington when he came to the Hill to advocate for 
organizations, like NVPEP (People Encouraging People) and Easterseals, 
that serve those living with disabilities and their families. He was a 
powerful voice because he spoke from experience; he never bemoaned the 
fact that he wasn't more mobile; and he proved how someone with 
conviction could accomplish anything.
  Sam was such a good friend--he even once gave me his famous lemon bar 
recipe but made me promise not to tell anyone the secret ingredients. 
His passing came as a shock and it is hard to imagine that I won't be 
seeing him--everywhere I turn--asking his advice, introducing him at 
some award ceremony (he received many), or sharing a funny story that 
happened out on the trail. Tom and my mother Betty and I will miss him 
so very much. His passing is a great loss to Nevada, to the Democratic 
Party, and to his many friends.
  I include in the Record the words of Dr. Marta Meana, President of 
the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in her memorial of Sam Lieberman, 
along with his official obituary.

       Dear University Community,
       UNLV lost one of its greatest champions on Friday with the 
     untimely passing of alumnus and Regent Sam Lieberman.
       Sam was quite simply a force for good. In so many ways.
       His involvement as a UNLV student in the early 1980s set 
     him on a path to pursue, and be a champion for, higher 
     education. After graduating from UNLV with a degree in social 
     work in 1996, Sam served as a member of the UNLV Alumni 
     Association Board and helped start the alumni chapter for the 
     College of Liberal Arts. He would later be

[[Page E359]]

     named the college's alumnus of the year, and in 2014 he was 
     elected as a member of the Nevada System of Higher Education 
     Board of Regents.
       Sam had an acute ability to discern the link between 
     systems and the people they impact, with an endless drive to 
     make them better. His ever-present wit and humor brought 
     levity, even during tough conversations. Perhaps, even more, 
     I'll miss his empathy and insight into the needs of our 
     students, and his vast knowledge of UNLV and of higher 
     education in Nevada. He used his voice to advocate for the 
     vulnerable, he celebrated our wins, and he was there to 
     support us whenever we needed him.
       To say Sam was active on campus would be an understatement. 
     He was a constant presence at UNLV, from major events to 
     small department-level functions. Sam was always there for 
     us, as he was for so many organizations throughout Nevada.
       It feels impossible to quantify Sam's monumental impact. 
     There are so many people he helped and those people, in turn, 
     have helped others. The human connections he made and the 
     lives he lifted up through higher education are a small part 
     of the legacy he left behind.
       There are few in UNLV's history who have displayed as much 
     passion and commitment for our students, and for the success 
     of everyone at our university, as Sam Lieberman. He will be 
     deeply missed.
       As we reflect on Sam's life and legacy, let's try to live 
     how Sam lived--to lend a voice to those who need it, to be 
     kind and truly listen to one another, and to lift each other 
     up at a time when it is so desperately needed. Please take 
     care of yourselves, and each other.
       Godspeed, Sam.

                   Obituary of Samuel Lewis Lieberman

       Samuel Lewis Lieberman, age 58, passed away Friday April 3, 
     2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. At his core, Sam was a social 
     being who thrived on connection to other people. Sam devoted 
     all of his life and energy to helping others--most notably in 
     Las Vegas where he lived for almost 40 years, and also 
     through his lifelong relationship with the Olin-Sang-Ruby 
     Union Institute (OSRUI, a Reform Jewish summer camp) in 
     Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.
       Sam was the oldest child of David and Sara Lieberman, and 
     was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was born with cerebral 
     palsy, which was a significant physical disability, but he 
     never let that get in the way of anything he wanted to do, 
     and he never complained . . . EVER. Sam grew up on Lake 
     Harriet, along with his siblings Jonathan, Barbara and 
     Michael. As a teenager, he was very active in Jewish youth 
     activities at Temple Israel Youth Group, Camp TEKO and NFTY, 
     and he attended Southwest Junior High. During high school 
     summers, Sam worked at OSRUI, where he ran the summer camp 
     office. Sam graduated from Marshall-University High School in 
     1980 and then left Minneapolis to attend college at the 
     University of Nevada-Las Vegas (UNLV). At UNLV, Sam immersed 
     himself in all aspects of student life--so much so that it 
     took him 16 years to complete his studies in order to 
     graduate! Through this experience, he developed a passion for 
     ensuring that people of all backgrounds and abilities had 
     access to education.
       As an adult, Sam worked with boundless energy as an 
     advocate for several important causes--including as a trusted 
     aide to Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, Chairman of the Nevada 
     Democratic Party, a Board Member of Nevada PEP (an 
     organization devoted to parents of children with 
     disabilities), President of Congregation P'nai Tikvah and 
     member of the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher 
     Education. He was also a kind, warm, funny and loyal friend 
     to so many people of all ages and backgrounds. (He has 4,455 
     friends on Facebook, and the flood of messages on his 
     Facebook pages is an uplifting thing to read.)
       Sam loved to eat too. In Minneapolis, it was prime rib at 
     the King's Inn, egg rolls at the Nankin and corned beef 
     sandwiches at the Lincoln Del. In Las Vegas, it was shrimp 
     cocktail and a Coke at The Tillerman, and a ribeye steak, 
     twice-baked potato and Caesar salad at the Golden Steer. He 
     also adored chicken soup with kreplach made by his Baba Adele 
     Lieberman--though she only made kreplach on special 
     occasions. He didn't really drink alcohol, except he would 
     order Bailey's Irish Cream and coffee--and sip it through a 
     straw.
       Sam also had a deep love and fierce devotion to his 
     family--which included not only his parents, siblings, 
     nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins, but also his 
     devoted friend and caregiver Clifton Whitehurst and Clifton's 
     daughter Alyssa Whitehurst. Sam is preceded in death by his 
     father David Lieberman, and is survived by his mother Sara, 
     siblings Jonathan, Barbara and Michael, sisters-in-law Lisa 
     Kayne Lieberman and Jessie Washburne-Harris, brother-in-law 
     Sam Askenazi, nieces and nephews Rebecca, Charlotte, Benjamin 
     and Gabriella, uncle Stephen Lieberman, aunts Sheila 
     Lieberman and Sandra Okinow and a large and loving group of 
     cousins.
       The world is a better place for his having been here, and 
     he will be greatly missed!

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