Lucy Gottlieb

Our beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Lucy Amato Gottlieb, died peacefully Sunday evening, January 28, 2024, at the age of 94 years, surrounded by her children, and most of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. As we lovingly spoke with her and sang songs to her, she died peacefully, like the light of a candle that blew out. She was interred in Bonaventure Cemetery, in Savannah, Monday January 29,2024, with Rabbi Avigdor Slatus officiating.

Mom was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, the older of 2 girls born to Nace and Regina Amato-Sephardic Jews from Rhodes who emigrated to the United States seeking a better life and escaping from the approaching winds of the Nazis, who eventually decimated the Rhodes Jewish community. She was educated at Girls' High--an all-girls high school in Atlanta, Georgia, where she excelled academically. She attended the University of GA and graduated with distinction, Phi Kappa Phi. She also found the love of her life at UGA, her sweet, loving husband, Alan David Gottlieb, with whom she enjoyed a rich 53 years of having 3 children and 10 grandchildren, and working together in their family business, Gottlieb's Delicatessen, while also working as a life insurance agent for Pilot Life Insurance Company.

As children, and throughout her life, we were so very proud of her achievements during her 50-year insurance agent career during which time she was the Number 1 Life Insurance agent in the country with Pilot Life for several years. We delighted seeing her pictures on billboards around Savannah and being interviewed by the Savannah Morning News, reporting on how this successful professional businesswoman managed to balance a heavy workload while lovingly raising her children.

She also focused her prodigious leadership talents and energy in volunteerism. She approached goals with a "can do, get it done" certitude. She was an active member of the Chatham County Democratic Party when she moved to Savannah. She served as a Girl Scout Troup Leader. She relished being an active member of her synagogue, Congregation B'nai Brith Jacob in Savannah, where she held several leadership positions. Her focus on Jewish education led her to become President of the Savannah Hebrew Day School PTA and was the Financial Secretary there for many years. As Chair of the Bingo Committee, she, along with her dear friends, raised critically needed funds for the school.

She, and husband Alan, were well-known across the globe for welcoming visitors to their home every Sabbath for sumptuous meals and warm home hospitality.

Bubbie/Nona (Yiddish and Ladino names for grandmother) truly treasured her family. She radiated love, joy, adoration, and gratitude, not only to our family members, but to everyone who crossed her path. She had a very special relationship with each one of her 10 grandchildren and their spouses, and 39 great-grandchildren. She and her sister Esther shared a life-long loving friendship. She enjoyed a beautiful 53-year loving marriage with our father, her husband, Alan, who pre-deceased her May 2, 2003.

She is Survived by: 3 children: Jerald (Sarah Blumenthal) Gottlieb, Murray(Dvora Posner) Gottlieb, Nechama(Tzvi) Cohen; 10 grandchildren: Joey(Leah)Gottlieb; Rebecca (Abie) Sutton; Judah(Esty)Gottlieb; GaviRussy)Gottlieb; Chaim(Tzippi) Cohen; Yossi(Esther)Cohen; Yaacov(Chanie)Cohen; Naomi(Chatzkel) Neuberger; Rikki(Vitzy)Weissman; Elisheva(Chezkel)Munk, 39 great-grandchildren, her dear sister and brother-in-law, Esther and Arnold Zipperman of Atlanta, GA, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Contributions in her memory may be made to: Congregation B'nai Brith Jacob Synagogue, or Rambam Day School, both in Savannah, GA.

The service was streamed live on Zoom and the recording can be viewed via the link below.
https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/5RDrVU2oCP5f2bGMcE0b_E1JgqDbkuHqKyQE8LtkDeEBX8VvrKpeEBtXEzEQ7emn.GYNHQ0wcHR60F2cY
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