Preston Dean Liebig

Preston Dean Liebig, “The Captain,” died on Thursday, December 18, 2014, at the age of 94 after a brief illness. He was born on November 13, 1920 to Clifford Merle and Ethel (Dickens) Liebig in Washington, Michigan and spent his early years in Lake Orion, Michigan. He married Christine Mau in 1946 and lived for many years in Verona, New Jersey, before moving to West Hartford in 1959. Preston lived in West Hartford for almost 50 years before moving to Hartford in 2008. He earned degrees in mechanical engineering from Michigan State University and the Stevens Institute of Technology. He enjoyed positions at several area companies, retiring from Combustion Engineering in 1985. Preston loved all things nautical. He built two boats, a rowboat and a Blue Jay sailboat, in the basement of his West Hartford home. He financed the purchase of his beloved O’Day 22 sailboat through the startup and management of his own patent drawing company, LUNALUX (a reference to the moonlighting jobs he took for its purchase and upkeep.) He was LUNALUX’s CEO, “chief cook and bottlewasher”, and sole employee. He spent summers in his own heaven sailing Long Island Sound, and winters in his basement workshop planning and building endless renovations and improvements to the boat. Preston was interested in and knowledgeable about almost everything. He had a huge collection of nonfiction books whose topics ranged from the history of the toothpick to the history of the known world. Preston loved singing, and saw any and all family gatherings as an opportunity to launch into song, with “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” and “The Old Rugged Cross” the staples of his repertoire. In later years, he derived great pleasure from being among his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren at family gatherings, whether on the sands of Hawk’s Nest Beach in Old Lyme, CT, at corn roasts and pancake breakfasts, or at family holiday celebrations. The Captain will be dearly missed by his sons and daughters: Paul Liebig of Manchester; Ann Fahey and husband Gil of Manchester; Steven Liebig and wife Denise of Cromwell; Jane Carroll and husband Ted of Hartford; Mary Liebig and husband Jack Hilditch of Manchester; Christopher Liebig and wife Carolyn Turvey of Iowa City, IA. He leaves eight grandchildren: Kati Hills, Jennifer Liebig, Benjamin Liebig, Meaghan Carroll, Emily Carroll, Mary Liebig, Sonja Liebig and Erin Liebig, and two great-grandchildren: Madelyn and Victoria Hills. He also leaves a dear friend, Ruth Wing, of California. He was predeceased by his wife of 60 years, Christine (Mau) Liebig, and an infant daughter, Patricia. The family is deeply grateful to Isaac Cooper, Preston’s diligent and kind live-in caregiver, to Saint Francis Hospital Floors 8-7 and 8-1, and to Masonicare Hospice. A service to celebrate Preston’s life will be held at Molloy Funeral Home, 906 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford, on Tuesday, December 30, at 11:00 a.m. Preceding the service will be a calling hour from 10-11 a.m. Burial at Fairview Cemetery in West Hartford will follow the service. In honor of Preston’s love of singing, memorial donations may be made in his name to Asylum Hill Congregational Church’s music ministry (“AHCC-Music”), AHCC, 814 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105.