Manny Leibert

Manuel ‘Manny’ M. Leibert, 98 years of age, of West Hartford, died Saturday, April 30, 2011. He was the husband of Shirley Leibert. Manny was born in New York City and moved to Hartford at a young age. He attended Hartford Public High School graduating in 1931. As a teenager, he worked in his dad’s kosher meat market learning the trade. Following high school, Manny attended the University of Connecticut (then known as Connecticut State College) graduating in 1935. Manny then attended Boston University School of Law where he obtained his Juris Doctorate in 1938. Following law school, Manny served in the United States Air Force where he was a Master Sergeant receiving a commendation from General Arnold for exceptional administrative ability in establishing a meat conservation plan during World War II.
Manny’s passion was the sport of boxing, which started in 1929, and promoting professional wrestling. He has been a manager, promoter, trainer and second in the corner. Manny’s life in boxing enabled him to consider Willie Pep, Jack Dempsey, Gene Tunney, Rocky Marciano and many others his friends. Manny was a founder of the Connecticut Boxing Guild and was key in bringing boxing back to Connecticut in 1973 after it had been banned in the state for eight years. Manny promoted many professional wrestling events during the 1950s and 60s throughout the state of Connecticut. When not promoting boxing or wrestling, Manny ran a successful salvage, pipe and steel business in Hartford known as the Leibert Corporation. Many politicians, business men and just regular folks spent time with Manny at his trailer in the North Meadows receiving advice or just having a laugh. Among his many awards are Conneacticut Boxing Guild Man of the Year, Probus Club Humanitarian Award, Lions Club International, Jewish Historical Society, Jewish Community Center Hall of Fame for Jewish Athletes and Volunteer of the Year State of Connecticut Department of Mental Retardation. In 1991, Manny was honored by the City of Hartford by the renaming of East Service Road to North Meadows Leibert Road. In 2006, Manny was honored by being inducted into the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame and at the 2010 ceremony at Mohegan Sun was honored with a song in Algonquian to Manny as a Warrior. Manny was the former chairman of the State of Connecticut Commission on Demolition and a member on various state agencies including the State Boxing Commission. Manny enjoyed helping people especially those less fortunate. He was generous with his money but even more so with his time. Manny loved to laugh and tell jokes to make others laugh. Even more than boxing and wrestling, Manny’s greatest joy more than anything else was spending time with his family who loved and respected him.
Besides his wife of 43 years, Manny is survived by two sons, Peter Leibert of Newington, and Richard Leibert and his wife Joyce and their children, Deborah Kritzman and her husband A.J. of West Hartford, Sarah Leibert of Bloomfield and Cheryl Leibert of Los Angeles, Calif., and three great-grandchildren, Sally, Sophie and Sadie Kritzman; sister Lillian Hillman of Bloomfield; sister-in-law Susan Leibert of Farmington; and many nephews and nieces. Manny was predeceased by his first wife Marjorie Spearo Leibert, a brother Herbert Leibert and sister Rose Cayer. Manny was a founding member of Beth El Temple in West Hartford and enjoyed time spent at the Mandell Jewish Community Center. The family wishes to thank the doctors and staff at Hebrew Health Care for their compassion, caring and support. Funeral services were held Tuesday, May 3, 2011 in the sanctuary of Beth El Temple with interment at Beth El Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Beth El Temple 2626 Albany Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06117 or to Hebrew Health Care, 1 Abrahms Blvd., West Hartford, CT 06117 or the Mandell Jewish Community Center, 335 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06117. Arrangements are entrusted to Weinstein Mortuary, Hartford. For further information, directions, or to sign the guest book for Manny, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com/funerals.cfm