KEN LIBERTOFF

1945-2024

Ken was born in 1945 in Brooklyn, New York. A proud graduate of Public School 114 and Junior High School 198 in Queens, New York, his boyhood memories included countless games of stoop and stickball and hours of basketball on the streets of Rockaway and Brooklyn.  Ken graduated from Far Rockaway High School in 1962 and attended the University of Connecticut, where he was a proud member of several outstanding UConn Husky basketball teams including the 1964 squad which made it to the Elite 8 NCAA tournament.  In 1978, Ken received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and Public Practice from Harvard University.  During his graduate career, Ken was awarded numerous National Institute of Mental Health scholarships while writing his dissertation on the subject of Runaway Children.

Ken moved to Vermont in 1976, and served as the director with the relatively new Washington County Youth Services Bureau.  In 1981, Ken was named the director of the Vermont Association for Mental Health, a post he maintained for 30 years.  While working as an advocate in this position he was engaged in many facets of legislative advocacy on many health and human service issues.  Among his achievements was his leadership in passing of the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Parity Bill in 1997.  This landmark legislation was viewed as the new national model and standard that included a mandate for all insurance policies sold within the state to cover both mental health and substance abuse conditions at parity with physical conditions.  During his tenure, he was known as a fierce advocate for consumer empowerment, innovative children’s services, and leadership in building recovery centers throughout the state.  Ken was a founding member of the Vermont Children’s Forum/Voices for Vermont’s Children, combining his passion for justice and his tenacious advocacy for kids and families.

Ken is survived by Sarah Hofmann, Ken’s wife and best friend whom he married later in life, his son Jamie Libertoff, of Albuquerque, NM, Jamie’s two children, Fiorella Gamio and Rodrigo Sarmiento who were shining stars in Ken’s constellation, as were Sarah’s children John Mullett of VT and Layne Mullett of PA. 

BOB SHEIL

1948-2022

Bob was born in 1948 in West Point, NY. He graduated from Middletown High School, Middletown, NY in 1965, Union College, Schenectady, NY in 1969 where he was a member of the swim team, and Vermont Law School in 1978. After college, Bob came to Vermont’s Mad River Valley to visit a friend for the weekend and stayed for life. He worked at a ski lodge, as a waiter and bartender, and enjoyed the busy social scene of the 1970s, making friends that lasted a lifetime. It was at the “White House” in Waitsfield, where he met many of those friends, including John Payne, Ilana Snyder, and Scott and Connie Lisle.

Bob began his legal career as a Deputy State’s Attorney in Washington County, Vermont, and then spent six years in private practice specializing in juvenile and criminal law. For the following twenty-eight years, he was employed as the supervising attorney in the Office of the Juvenile Defender, which is part of Vermont’s public defender system. Bob served on several non-profit boards including the New England Juvenile Defender Center, Institute of Professional Practice, Policy Council for the local Head Start program, Washington County Youth Service Bureau, ASPIRE, and Voices for Vermont’s Children, a statewide advocacy organization for Vermont children and youth. Bob was Voices’ longest-serving board member and remained connected to Voices for over 30 years.

Bob was the Northeast Regional Chair of the Coalition for Juvenile Justice, a national organization advocating on the federal level for juvenile justice issues. In December 1998 Bob published an article, “It’s About Time” in the Vermont Bar Journal and Law Digest, and in 2016, Bob was honored by the Vermont Legislature for his exemplary public service.

Bob was also well known for being a fabulous cook who welcomed guests into his home and delighted fellow staff and committee/board members with his delicious baked goods at their meetings.

He was an inspiration to so many who knew him and genuinely one of the kindest people you ever met. He possessed a sharp mind, a wonderful sense of humor, and an unfailing willingness to help and embrace those who had the honor to spend time with him. Bob is survived by John Payne, sister and brother-in-law Eileen and Bruz Brown of Williamsburg, VA, two nephews, Edmund Brown and Thomas Brown, one grandniece Ansley Sheil Brown, and godchildren Chris and Lauren Lisle.