Burton Sandford Liebesman

Burton Sandford (Sandy) Liebesman, originally of Asbury Park, NJ, passed away on February 6, 2026, just three weeks shy of his 91st birthday. Sandy was a loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather whose kindness, intellect, and humor touched everyone who knew him.

Born and raised in Asbury Park and Bradley Beach, NJ, Sandy’s lifelong love of baseball began in his youth. A passionate Yankees fan, he often reminisced about the excitement of seeing the team train at Asbury Park High School during World War II, when travel restrictions kept them close to home.

After spending a year at Oberlin College, Sandy received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, where he graduated in 1957 with a degree in engineering. Following his graduation, fate and the beach brought him together with his first wife—also named Sandy. From then on, they were affectionately known as “The Sandys,” a fitting name for two people who fell in love at the beach. The couple married in 1958 and had three children. A dedicated father, Sandy delighted in coaching his children’s soccer and baseball teams—but as his younger daughter Amy used to say, we all know that coaching didn’t really get fun until Gary came along.

Sandy’s lifelong passion for mathematics and problem-solving guided his professional life. After serving in the U.S. Air Force working on missile technology, he joined Bell Labs (later Lucent Technologies), where he spent many fulfilling years and completed a Ph.D. in Operations Research at NYU. He retired in 2001 but kept just as busy working with professional organizations and writing a book that he published in 2011. His expertise in quality management and standards led him to write Using ISO 9000 to Improve Business Processes (1994) and Competitive Advantage: Linked Management Systems (2011). Sandy also served in leadership roles at the American Society for Quality (ASQ), where he was highly respected.

In 1994, after 36 years of marriage, Sandy’s beloved wife, Sandy, passed away. Later, he met his second wife, Elinor Rosenberg Liebesman, with whom he shared a wonderful relationship. Together they moved to California in 2017, a place they both enjoyed. Stephanie, Elinor’s daughter, was also a loving source of support and care for Sandy.

Sandy’s death was preceded by the passing of his beloved daughter, Amy, in 2023. Sandy is survived by his wife, Elinor; his children, Jodi (Stu) and Gary (Stacy) and Amy’s husband, David; his six grandchildren — Sophie, Simon, Daniel, Yaakov, Jillian, and Yonah; his brother, Lawrence (Carol); and Elinor’s children and grandchildren, Seth (Becky) Whidden, Carter and Posey, and Stephanie Rosenberg.

Sandy was a kind and gentle man, whose life was defined by his love of family and dedication to his work. He made the world a better place, and we will miss him. If you would like to honor Sandy, donations can be made to Alumni Wall in the Miller Chapel of the Levy Center at The U.S. Naval Academy or the The Michael J. Fox Foundation. (Direct links to both charities can be found below)

A committal service will be held at the Beth El Cemetery, located at 3351 NJ-33, Neptune City, New Jersey, 07753, United States. The service is scheduled for February 13, 2026, from 11:30 am to 12:00 pm.