Sam Liberman passed away on March 21, 2026 following a long battle with dementia.

He is survived by his wife, Terri LaBriola, and children Tom, Marya, Shana, and Hava Liberman, James Treece, stepdaughter Sarah Scott, seven grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. Sam was preceded in death by his daughter, Joan Butcher, and his brother, Pierce Liberman.

Sam had a long career as a civil rights lawyer, mostly in St. Louis, Missouri. He was a champion of the underdog, always on the right side of history. In fact, he made history in 1968 when the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs Sam represented in a fair housing case.

He was a Renaissance man – an accomplished artist and pianist. He grilled meat like a five-star chef. He loved Louis Armstrong, the St. Louis Cardinals, and the New Yorker magazine and word puzzles. He was a master of puns. His favorite movie was Melvin and Howard. His favorite dessert was tiramisu, and the one he made was the best.

Donations can be sent to the ACLU.