OBITUARY FOR RAYMOND EDGAR LEIBMAN – PBHS 1953-1957
Ray Leibman died in Johannesburg on 15th September 2020, after a short illness with bone cancer. He leaves his wife Gail, 4 adult children and 10 grandchildren . He married Gail Jaffit, who was involved with the theatre and was his wife for over 40 years. They loved good music, comedy and theatre and he attended many theatrical functions and opening nights. Ray’s lyrical, beautiful singing voice was discovered initially at Boy’s High in Gilbert & Sullivan operetta’s and with his love of music, he continued to be involved with singing.
Ray was educated at PBHS in years 1953-1957. He was a School Prefect in his matric year. He was always one of the humorous characters in the classroom and as a boarder in Solomon House and he took part in many extra-mural activities. With his excellent tenor voice he shared the lead role of Major General Stanley with head boy David Dalling in the Gilbert & Sullivan‘s operetta ‘ Pirates of Penzance’ in 1957. In 2017, at his matric class 60-Year on Reunion at Boys High, Ray was given the honour of proposing the main toast, which he did with great aplomb and his usual touch of dry humour. He was very supportive of the PBHSOB’s Association and attended all the main 1957 Matric Class Reunions.
Although not a leading sportsman in his school years, he went on to become an excellent 5 Handicap golfer. After retiring from golf, he was a bowls member at Killarney Bowls Club, where he played for many years. They amalgamated with Sharon Country Club, where he was a devoted bowls member. He represented South Africa as a bowler at the Maccabi Bowls Tournament in Israel in 2013 and again in 2017, where his team brought back a Bronze medal in the Men’s Fours event.
After school, Ray qualified with a BA(Law) at the University of Pretoria . He practiced law for a short while with Attorney’s Bloch & Gross. In 1967 he entered the Real Estate and Development field, eventually selling his own Real Estate business in 1985. He joined the Aida Group where he was a director, until he left to develop his own Cruise Brokerage business in 1996. ‘Just Cruising’ became a very successful , independent, worldwide cruise broker. He won many awards as a top cruise agent, which enabled he and Gail to cruise the Seven Seas and pursue their interests in travel. He cruised on 104 cruises visiting all 7 continents.
Ray was highly respected in the business community and by his many loyal Cruise customers, who supported him year after year. He was a true gentleman and was loved by everyone who met him.
Obituary for Raymond Leibman.
Ray was an exceptional fellow in every respect.
He was an excellent sportsman, played a mean game of cricket at school and represented Australia at the Maccabi games in lawn bowls, and was a 5 handicap golfer.
Many of you will remember Ray performing in the Gilbert and Sullivan shows put on at PBH.
He also performed in a number of theatrical productions for the Lodge Players in the 60’s and was critiqued in the Pretoria News as delivering inspired musical comedy unequalled this side of the professional stage. On a personal note, Ray and I with our guitars and voices sang together at many charity functions and I have very fond memories of those times.
After matriculating, he studied law at Tukkies and did his articles at Friedland, Hart and Kuper, however, he was drawn to joining his brother in an extremely successful Real Estate business in Johannesburg where he spent a number of years until the travel bug caught him and he became a travel agent specialising in Cruising. His business was called “Just Cruising” and soon he became known as “Mr.Cruise”. As Mr. Cruise, he not only put together groups on special cruises but led the groups himself accompanied by his wife. The personal touch and his loveable personality are what made them so special.
Strangely enough, as capable as he was at most activities, Tech was not one of them. His one son Daniel who worked with him for a while relates the story of Ray being very frustrated with his phone because he couldn’t get it to make a call. Problem was, as Daniel discovered when he went over to help him, that Ray was trying to make the call on his calculator.
Ray had been married twice. At the time of his passing his 2nd marriage had hit the 40 year mark. He had 2 children from each marriage. Two sons live in Australia, one daughter in the USA and one daughter in Israel.
Ray had an enviable command of the English language which he put to such good use both in the spoken and written word. That skill has been passed onto his son Jeremy who wrote the following piece about his late Dad and I think is a fitting end to this obituary.
I will miss knowing that my good old buddy Ray is no longer with us, even if we lived 10000 kms. Apart.
Manfred Perlstein