Obituary of Joan Leb

Joan Leb (nee Plotkin) born February 26, 1934 in Cleveland, Ohio, died on Saturday, May 25 in Cypress, California. Beloved wife of the late Daniel E. Leb, dear sister of twins, the late Rebecca Eden and the late Lillian Mulberg; devoted and cherished mother of Michael Leb (Nancy) and Marian Martin (Paul); adored grandmother of Geoffrey Martin (Christina), Lauren Martin (Collin Herron), and Allison Martin; adoring great-grandmother of Jack Herron and special aunt to her loving nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her long-term "spousal equivalent" Ted Van Boemel, with whom she shared a loving 16-year relationship. Joan grew up on Cleveland’s east side, the daughter of Russian immigrants. She was doted on by her twin sisters who were 12 years older. She graduated from Bryn Mawr College and married Daniel in 1955. They spent the first seven years of their marriage traveling from Cleveland, to San Franciso, Oklahoma (where Michael was born) and back to Cleveland (Marian’s birthplace.) Joan reinvented her professional self several times over the years. She was a social worker, stay-at-home mom, school librarian, and advertising media specialist. From Cleveland, Joan and Dan moved to Louisville, Pittsburgh, and Detroit before moving to Long Beach in 2000 to be closer to their grandchildren. She was always actively involved in her communities through the synagogue and organizations like the League of Women Voters and the National Council of Jewish Women. She was the best-read person most people will ever meet and was a devotee and supporter of the arts, particularly live theater. After Dan’s death, Joan was fortunate to find love again with Ted (now age 99) with whom she spent a wonderful 16 years. She always said her idea of heaven was to be at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival seeing a matinee and evening performance every day for eternity. Service to be held in the chapel at Harbor Lawn/Mt. Olive Cemetery, 1625 Gisler Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626 at 1:00 pm on Thursday, May 30, followed by graveside burial and meal of condolence at Temple Israel, 269 Loma Ave., Long Beach, CA 90803. The family requests donations in lieu of flowers. Donations can be made to the Temple Israel Joys of Jewish Learning Fund or the Joan and Daniel Leb Family Endowment Fund at Jewish Long Beach.