In Memoriam – Dr. Howard Barry Liebgold

Dr. Howard Barry Liebgold   (Oct. 7, 1932 – Aug. 15, 2013)

Dr. Liebgold, of Lincoln, CA., passed away Aug. 15. He was born in New York. All his life, he excelled. During his college years at UCLA, he earned Phi Beta Kappa honors along with his AA and BA degrees, was in ROTC for three years; First Lieutenant of his Rifle team; on the rowing team, and pitched for Junior Varsity. He was President of his 3rd year class, at UC Medical School, and performed his residency at UCSF, until earning his M.D.

During his 43 year career at Kaiser Permanente, Vallejo, he was the Chief of Kaiser Federation Rehabilitation Center (KFRC), and also the Chief of the Chronic Pain/TMJ/Acupuncture clinics. Affectionately known as Dr. Fear, he was most renowned for teaching Phobias classes and workshops for 25 years in California and throughout the country. He helped cure over 10,000 people of their Anxiety and OCD. In 1991, he was elected California’s Rehabilitation Physician of the Year. A Professional Lecturer at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco and the Million Round Table in Toronto, and Author of nine books, he was a National Expert on Phobias, appearing on the Oprah Winfrey show, BBC, Unsolved Mysteries, Evening Magazine and The Doctors.

He was also known for being a marathon runner, a competitive weight lifter and tennis player. With his wife Carol Rose, they won multiple dance championships in ball room and tap. Making people laugh was his specialty and was particularly known around Sun City for his Richard Simmons performance in the talent show. Recently he was most proud of his All Star team and being MVP in his Senior Softball team. He is survived by his wife, Carol Laverne Zampa (Rose) of 25 years, their four children, three grandchildren and one great granddaughter.