Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Southern Lehigh to hold memorial service for superintendent

FROM THE EXPRESS TIMES

The Southern Lehigh School District will pay tribute to long-time superintendent Joseph Liberati with a memorial service and scholarship fund. Liberati died Monday after suffering an illness. He was 57.

The memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday in the gymnasium of Southern Lehigh High School, 5800 Main St, Center Valley.

A scholarship fund also has been set up in his name. Donors are asked to make checks payable to Southern Lehigh School District, and the family has asked for donations to this fund in lieu of flowers.

The district's memorial service will held in addition to church services, which will be held 11 a.m. Friday at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 3219 Santee Road, Bethlehem. Calling hours will be held 4 to 8 p.m. at Morello Funeral Home, 3720 Nicholas St., Palmer Township.


Liberati was born in West Pittston, Luzerne, County. He taught in the Easton area and was a Hopewell-Lower Milford Elementary School principal before he moved on to higher administrative positions in 2001. Liberati became superintendent in 2003.

Liberati announced his plans to retire earlier this fall, and the school board approved his retirement effective March 16 at its Nov. 7 meeting.

Liberati was known for his quirky sense of humor and his love for children and education. Assistant Superintendent Leah Christman has been serving as interim superintendent for the past several months and is expected to become Liberati's successor.

The district's website said the community was "shocked and saddened to learn of Superintendent Joseph P. Liberati's unexpected and sudden passing. His decades of leadership at Southern Lehigh School District were marked with a strong sense of educational direction, a compassion for students and an obsession with serving Southern Lehigh's Community."

Christman was unavailable for comment.

Donations to the scholarship fund should be sent to Southern Lehigh School District, 5775 Main Street, Center Valley, PA 18034. Attention: Diana Millman.

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/southernlehigh/mc-liberati-scholarship-20111129,0,4795713.story

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