Charles “Chuck” Libbert

Charles “Chuck” Libbert, 85, passed away on December 23, 2018 in Santa Barbara, California.

Chuck was born in Newark, NY to Charles and Sarah Libbert. In 1958 he was hired by the oil companies to teach in Iran for the American schools where he met and married the love of his life, Betty Lynn. Chuck and Betty moved to Santa Barbara in 1964 and taught for the city of Santa Barbara until 1970 when they took teaching positions with the oil companies in Venezuela. They returned to their teaching positions in Santa Barbara a few years later. Chuck was a math teacher and golf coach at La Cumbre Junior High where he stayed until he retired.

During his tenure at La Cumbre Junior High, Chuck became the Math department head and championed the hiring of female math teachers at a time when women were rarely considered for those positions. Under Chuck’s leadership in 1990, La Cumbre Junior High was recognized by the state of California as Outstanding Math department. By that time the math department at La Cumbre Jr high was predominantly women.

In the early 1980’s Chuck began to lead his students into the computer age by acquiring funding from the school district to purchase the first computers to be used in Santa Barbara classrooms.

When President Reagan announced the teacher-in-space program in 1985, Chuck was among four teachers from Santa Barbara that were hoping to be selected by NASA. Although he was not selected, when asked by the media if he would apply again if given the chance, he did not hesitate to say yes.
Chuck enjoyed a good football game, playing golf, traveling and sports cars. He was a devoted husband and father and maintained lifelong friendships with many of his former students.

Chuck Libbert is preceded in death by his wife, Betty and is survived by his daughters, Kimberly and Gillian.

Donations may be made in Chuck’s name to his favorite non-profit, The Santa Barbara Zoo:
500 Ninos Drive, Attn: Donations, Santa Barbara, CA 93103 or online at sbzoo.pivvit.com/general-donations.

His daughters wish to extend their sincere thanks to Valle Verde retirement community, Visiting Nurses (Hospice)