Jay Leiber

Jay S. Leiber passed away on May 10, 2016, with his family at his side. Born in Hattiesburg, MS, on Thanksgiving Day, in 1928, the son of Charles and Victoria Leiber, Jay grew up in Hot Springs, AR, later earning a B.S. in Business Administration from Indiana University. After graduation, he returned to Hot Springs to support his family's candy and export business, and to start a family with his wife, Audrey. In 1968, in search of personal growth and opportunities, Jay moved his family to Houston, TX, where he soon excelled as a stockbroker. While working and raising a family in Hot Springs, Jay served as President of Congregation House of Israel; and for many years, he was on the Temple Board of Directors. He also served as President of the B'nai B'rith Lodge of Hot Springs, and was an active member of the Rotary Club. Four years after moving to Houston, his wife was stricken with cancer, which tragically took her life. Then, in 1973, Jay met the former Selma Kornet. Soon afterwards, they married, combining their two families into one. Together, they put their children through school, built a successful pet boarding and grooming business, traveled the world, and cherished their family and an abundance of friends. In May 2000, after many years of happiness and successes, they suffered the tragic loss of one of their sons, Scott M. Leiber, to cancer. Jay and Selma are long-time members of Congregation Beth Yeshurun. However, for 30 years prior, they were members of Congregation B'rith Shalom, where Leiber served as a member of the Board of Trustees and as an officer of the congregation. He has been a continued member of B'nai B'rith for more than 65 years, having first joined in 1950, in Hot Springs. After 30 successful years as a stockbroker, Certified Financial Planner, and Vice President of UBS Financial Services, Inc. (formerly PaineWebber Inc.), Leiber retired. He then committed all his time and effort to the M.D. Anderson Patient Network, where he volunteered his services by counseling patients who shared the same rare form of lymphoma he was diagnosed with in 1998. He was a financial supporter of M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and many other charities. Having joined the US Air Force while still in school, and committing many years as a reservist, Leiber proudly held the rank of Major (Retired). Jay Leiber is survived by his beloved wife of 43 years, Selma Leiber; his daughter Dale Leiber Simon, and husband, Alan; and his son, Jim Leiber, and wife, Debbie. He is also survived by his loving grandchildren, Gavy Simon Vela, and husband, Marty; Vaughn Simon, and financee, Courtney Morelle; Adam Leiber, and wife, Blake Sunshine Leiber; Jeff Leiber; and Tori Leiber. The family especially wishes to thank Dr. Jorge Romaguera and his team at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center for their wonderful care in fighting Mantle Cell Lymphoma so successfully for the past 18 years since Jay's original diagnosis was made, in 1998. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to M. D. Anderson Lymphoma Department, at the direction of Dr. J Romaguera, Unit #429, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030, or charity of choice.

Jay Leiber

November 29, 1928 - May 10, 2016