Roy A. Luebbe

Roy A. Luebbe, aged 83, died suddenly at his home at Oakcrest Retirement Community, Parkville, Thursday September 6, 2012. He served on the USS Coral Sea 1947-9. He was the founding director of the Calhoon MEBA Engineering School, a private maritime educational facility for training members of the Marine Engineers Beneficial Association, as well as all maritime and related industry professionals. The school grew as a response in the mid-1960s to find a way to meet the critical shortage of qualified marine engineers needed during the Vietnam war. To satisfy the demand, the Calhoon MEBA Engineering School was founded in 1966, and took high school graduates through two years of intense study, including six months of sea time. Later, the program expanded to three years, with a full year of sea duty. By balancing traditional classroom work with hands-on equipment training, it prepared cadets for a career in the merchant marine upon graduation. Originally located in Baltimore, first at the Emerson Hotel and later at the Southern Hotel on Light Street, the school earned significant public acclaim for its uniqueness, under Roy Luebbe’s direction. The school occupied the entire 14 floors of the Southern Hotel. Some hotel sleeping rooms remained as living quarters, while others were converted to modern classrooms, technical shops, and a medical clinic. A grand ballroom, once famous for its dances, became a gym with a boxing ring, basketball court, and volleyball net. The school is now located in St. Michaels, MD on what was the campus of Kirkland Hall Junior College, and after a 1991 restructuring, the school refocused to providing continuing educational and upgrading opportunities for licensed MEBA officers. From 2001 - 2005, a new conference center, cafeteria, state-of-the-art bridge simulator, and a 10-acre Merchant Marine Memorial were constructed.

Born in Pittsburgh, he was divorced from his first wife, Mary Cassidy, who died in 2009, and was married to Christiane “Chris” Luebbe for over 30 years, who died in 2004. He is survived by a brother, L. Donald Luebbe, his daughters, Susan M. Luebbe and Julie H. McArthur, and a grand-daughter, Heather L McArthur. He was a passionate dog lover and a proud supporter of Lab Rescue.

The family will receive friends in the Chapel of Oak Crest Retirement Community, 8820 Walther Blvd., Parkville, MD 21234 on Tuesday, September 18, 2012, 10-11 AM, at which time we will celebrate Roy's Life. Interment Private. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be directed in Roy's memory to the Oak Crest Scholarship Fund, (8820 Walther Blvd., Parkville, MD 21234) or Lab-Rescue (Lab Rescue of the LRCP, Inc., P.O. Box 1814, Annandale, VA 22003). A guest book is available at www.lemmonfuneralhome.com