Page 20 - 2023-May-June-Journal

In Memoriam

The Medical Society extends deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the following physicians.

Gilbert Joseph Custer, Jr., MD

Gilbert Joseph Custer, Jr., MD, life’s challenges. A favorite saying of his was, “We’re all
69, passed away on April 7. After a here by grace and not justice.” Gilbert loved music and
valiant fight against an aggressive played guitar since he was 16 years old. He also enjoyed
cancer, he had only two priorities for flamenco music and dance, gardening, yoga and Pilates,
the final months of his life: to see his science, and history. He is survived by his wife of 42
family and say his goodbyes, and to years, Sylvia, and two adult children.
ensure his patients would be ok. After his passing, his wife received this note that
A native of San Antonio, he received his encapsulated much about this fine man: “I was so lucky
undergraduate and medical degrees there, as well as his to have had Dr. Custer in my life for over a decade. He
residency in general psychiatry and a fellowship in child was the kindest, sweetest, most caring human and I am
and adolescent psychiatry. A well-respected child and grateful to have known him. I will miss our discussions
adolescent psychiatrist in Austin for over 40 years, about the fact that I’m a Capricorn, same as Mrs. Dr.
Gilbert served patients in his private practice from 1985 Custer. And how she’s the organized perfectionist and
up to a month before his death. He saw some of his he’s the disorganized husband. I will miss you very much.
beloved patients grow into adulthood to become parents You have touched my life so significantly. Thank you,
with their own children. Dr. Custer was passionate about Dr. Custer.”
helping others see the best in themselves. He offered
gentle guidance and tools to empower people to navigate

Thomas Liebermann, MD

Thomas Liebermann, MD, 80, practicing part time with Austin Gastroenterology until a
passed away on March 16. According couple of years before his passing. Rambie Briggs, who
to colleagues, his parents were practiced with him for many years, recalls, “Tom had an
psychiatrists who managed to encyclopedic memory, but was never arrogant about it and
emigrate from Austria around the always happy to answer questions and discuss complex
beginning of WWII, their boat turned medical problems. He was very decisive and was almost
away at Ellis Island, eventually settling always right. He definitely was of academic quality.”
in Mexico City where Dr. Liebermann was born Dr. Liebermann and his wife Olivia suffered the loss
in 1942. His father died when Tom was young, his of their only child, Stephanie, then a pre-med student at
mother supporting the family by starting the first Rice. He was a private man, seen in his later years walking
laundromat in Mexico City, a business that thrived in the the trail at Lady Bird Lake. After his passing, a nephew
years that followed. recalled, “My uncle was a great talker. I really liked
Dr. Liebermann received his medical degree from listening to him talk about the topics he was passionate
the National Autonomous University of Mexico before about: politics, books, movies, medicine. He was very
moving to the US where he completed his internal educated and liked to debate and make people think.”
medicine and GI training at Henry Ford Hospital in Friends and colleagues unanimously recall him, not only
Detroit. He practiced throughout the ’70s at Scott and as a skilled physician, but more importantly, knew him
White in Temple, before joining the Austin Diagnostic as a man whose life was defined by kindness, compassion,
Clinic in 1981. He spent most of his career there before and generosity.

20 2023 May • June TCMS