Barbara J. Allen Lieblein

With sadness the family of Barbara J. Allen Lieblein announces her peaceful passing on Oct. 19, 2026 at the age of 87. 

Barbara was born in Berlin, Germany on Feb. 6, 1939, and came to America in 1952 at the age of 13, not speaking English. Nevertheless, Barbara graduated with honors and a Regents diploma from Mepham high school in Bellmore, N.Y. at the age of 17. She gave up a scholarship to Cortland State Teachers College to remain close to her mother who had barely managed to keep them both alive while they were displaced persons during World War II. So, instead Barbara started her first insurance job the day after graduation. 

At 18 she became a citizen and at 21 she received her insurance broker’s license. She married, had three sons and managed her own agency from home. She later divorced her husband and in 1979 moved to Shelter Island with her sons and her parents. 

Barbara formed a close relationship with Mal Nevel while playing golf at Goat Hill, where she helped preserve the golf course from development as its president for three years and then ventured into local politics following Mal’s lead. When Rollie Clark gave up his Town Board seat, Barbara replaced him and was subsequently elected for a four-year term. In her campaign speech, Barbara proudly stated though born in Germany her life really only began when she came to the United States.

After Mal Neville passed away in Barbara’s home on Christmas Day 1994, she couldn’t be without a boat for long and the following year she bought a 19-foot Starcraft bowrider from Bill Lieblein at Port of Egypt Marine. This chance encounter led to her marriage to William Lieblein in 1999.

Barbara’s favorite pastime was boating on her boat “Bubbly.”

Barbara is survived by her husband William H Lieblein; and her sons Karl (Karen), Kurt (Debbie), and Konrad (Irene); and four grandsons Christian, Nicholas, Kristopher and Alexander.

A memorial service will be held at some time in the future at Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church on Shelter Island. As per her wishes, her ashes will be scattered near Jessup’s Neck in Shelter Island Sound, where she and “Bubbly” were fixtures for so many years and where she spent some of her happiest times.

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