Remembering Leonard “Len” Lieberman—

For nearly three decades, Leonard “Len” Lieberman was the strongest voice for the Jewish people in our dialogue with the Illinois state government. Lieberman, who in 1981 established the Federation’s Government Affairs office in Springfield, died on Nov. 9, at 74.

He served as lobbyist in the Illinois State Capitol for the Jewish Federation of Chicago and the Jewish Federations across the state for 28 years, holding the titles of Director, Government Affairs and Associate Vice President, Government Affairs.

Before opening the Government Affairs office, “we were advised that we needed to always be credible, fair, and totally non-partisan in our dealings with elected State officials. When we hired Len to be our director, all these goals were instantly met,” said JUF’s Executive Vice Chairman Dr. Steven B. Nasatir, then-Federation’s president. “Len Lieberman’s stature was large, and his impact over so many years on legislation benefiting all citizens of Illinois was very significant. [He was] a one-of-a-kind mensch.”

When Lieberman retired in 2010, Aaron B. Cohen, then- JUF News Executive Editor, lauded his tremendous contributions. “He has been the organized Jewish community’s voice in Springfield,” Cohen wrote at the time. “The citizens of Illinois, especially the most vulnerable among them, have been the beneficiaries of the work of Len [and] his colleagues. Almost every bill that has expressed the commitment of the State of Illinois to the security of the Jewish community, and of Israel, has a piece of Len in it.”

Lieberman led the efforts to establish the first state-funded program for the homeless and ensure that state pension funds were divested from Iran, and was active in policy regarding health and human services, non-profit organizations, and parochial schools.

For the Jewish community, his work ranged from making Holocaust reparations tax-exempt and preventing life-insurance companies from discriminating against travel to Israel to passing bills on kosher food labeling. Lieberman helped maintain funding for Mt. Sinai Hospital, and secure and maintain $42 million in grants and contracts to JUF agencies.

The Jewish Federations of North America established the Len Lieberman Professional of the Year Award.

Born in Chicago, Lieberman attended Mather High School, and graduated from Northern Illinois University in 1969, earning his master’s degree in public administration from what is now the University of Illinois-Springfield in 1973.

Prior to joining Chicago’s Federation, he worked for 10 years for the State of Illinois, in the areas of transportation, law enforcement, and corrections.

Lieberman was an active lay leader both within and outside the Jewish community. He served as president the Springfield Jewish Federation, and of Congregation Temple Israel. He also was a lead volunteer at B’nai B’rith Lodge #67.

Additionally, he was a founding volunteer with the local Parents Anonymous chapter. He later served on the boards of Oak Ridge Cemetery–Lincoln’s burial site–and the State Journal Register’s Advisory Committee. In retirement, he became active in the LLCC Academy of Lifelong Learning, serving as president from 2017-2018.

According to his family, what Lieberman treasured most in his later years were his relationships with those he mentored, his many bridge and poker groups, and reunions with fellow NIU alums.

On Lieberman’s LinkedIn page, he expressed his reason for stepping down: “I took an early retirement… then traveled with [my wife] Gail for 14 months before her death due to cancer. I am now traveling the country and the world, sometimes with daughter Miriam. But I am always available for mentoring my old colleagues in Springfield and across the country.”

Lieberman was predeceased by Gail, his wife of 41 years, and his parents, Manny and Rae Lieberman. He is survived by his daughter Miriam (Matthew) Lacey, and by his brothers Marcus (Ann) Lieberman and Arnold (BJ) Lieberman. Services were arranged by Bisch and Son Funeral Home in Springfield, followed by burial at Oak Ridge Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to local Jewish Federations or to Congregation Temple Israel.