In the spring of 2011, friends, family and colleagues gathered to honor Ellin Lieberman. They raised funds to establish a scholarship in her name to inspire others to an active life of civic engagement and community service. The Ellin Lieberman Scholarship is now awarded annually to a graduating female senior at South Pasadena High School who has demonstrated her interest in civic leadership and community service – a young woman who leads by example.
In December of 2011, Ellin passed away and donations in her memory were added to the scholarship fund held by the Pasadena Community Foundation. She was remembered as a “Dedicated, Demanding, Democratic, Curious, Courageous, Convincing, Fearless, Friendly, Forceful, a Menchy Maven who did Mitzvahs.”
Ellin grew up in Brooklyn, New York and received her undergraduate degree from Harvard and her MD from Boston University. She became the Head of the Division of Kidney Disease at Los Angeles Children’s Hospital in 1970, retiring in 1998. She also started a postgraduate program in St. Petersburg, Russia to expand training and clinical care focused on kidney disease.
Busier Than Ever in Retirement
After she “retired,” Ellin Lieberman became a community leader. She knew that an active community breeds a healthy democracy, and a strong democracy enhances the opportunities for all, especially for individuals living in underserved areas. In early 2007, Ellin became an enthusiastic and committed supporter of the Barack Obama campaign. She and her husband Harry walked and traveled thousands of miles for the campaign. The President formally acknowledged them at his April 2009 Los Angeles visit.
The Lierbermans also hosted hundreds of events at their home to raise money for Hurricane Katrina victims; interdenominational sessions to increase understanding and tolerance; book clubs; candidate forums; and Organizing for America educational sessions. The Ellin Lieberman endowed scholarship will perpetually honor Ellin’s leadership by action and recognize those who share her vision and commitment to community.
“The life of Ellin has taught me to Love without discrimination, Help without expectation of a return, Live with a passion for change, and Succeed by upholding the standards of strong morality and character. I am honored to be the first recipient of the Ellin Lieberman Scholarship and carry on the civic leadership, community service, and moral standards that Mrs. Lieberman so gracefully demonstrated.”
~ Chloe Lloyd, first recipient of the Ellin Lieberman Scholarship, Student, Chapman University, on the occasion of Ellin’s memorial service March 4, 2012.