William E. Lebeau

William Emanuel Lebeau August 11, 1922 - February 11, 2011 William Emanuel Lebeau, M.D., of Waco died peacefully in his sleep Friday, February 11, 2011, following a recent course of pnuemonia. Services will be at 6:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 16, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Chapel. Visitation will be 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 16, prior to the service, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Chapel. William Emanuel Lebeau was born on August 11, 1922, in Pittsburgh, Pa, the son of Dr. Samuel and Regina Lebeau. His father was his community's primary pediatrician, and his mother was a prominent member of many social service organizations, as well as a renowned Hostess and Homemaker. Theirs' was a European Jewish household, which formed the roots of both his professional and personal life, encouraging scholarliness, humility, authenticity, joyousness, humor, and selfless giving. From childhood, Dr. Lebeau's household was the community's epicenter for playing classical music and for the study and practice of Jewish culture and spirituality. It was here as a child that he began his lifelong love of stringed instruments, playing his cello in chamber groups. He later developed an equal passion for playing classical guitar. In later years, as then president of the Pittsburgh Cello and Guitar Societies respectively, he was instrumental in bringing Pablo Casals and later Andres Segovia to Pittsburgh to offer master classes, allowing him the opportunity to meet privately with two of his most admired artists. He met his first wife, Marion Berger Lebeau, in a harmony class, while both were attending the same high school. Marion went on to become a harpist with the Pittsburgh Symphony and, for several decades, they shared their love of performing classical, Broadway, and religious music as professional union musicians in orchestras, in synagogue, and at home. After completing medical school at the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Lebeau served in the Navy as a Medical Officer. He maintained his affiliation with the University of Pittsburgh's School of Medicine for several decades as a full professor, while also maintaining a private practice, as well as acting as an attending physician for the local Veterans Administration's hospitals. He met his second wife, Christine Lebeau, while both were affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh. They moved to Waco in the 1970s, where Dr. Lebeau reestablished his private practice and began his 35+ year affiliation with Providence Hospital. Together with his wife, Dr. Lebeau continued to enjoy numerous lifelong passions, including his love of traveling and of taking photographs. Additionally, he maintained a lifelong interest in constructing stringed instruments. As a practitioner, Dr. Lebeau maintained numerous professional affiliations throughout his career, including his full memberships in both the American and International Psychoanalytical Associations. A longstanding member of the American Psychiatric Association, in more recent years, he was deemed a "Distinguished Life Fellow" for his contributions to the field of psychiatry. As an educator, Dr. Lebeau continued his love of teaching and mentoring when he relocated to Waco, maintaining professorships at both Baylor University and at Texas A&M. Dr. Lebeau was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel and Regina Lebeau; his first wife, Marion Berger Lebeau; his siblings, Leonard Klineman and Lucille Klineman Cooper; and several cousins. He is survived by his wife, Christine Lebeau; his daughter, Carolyn Lebeau Hughes of Pittsburgh, Pa; his son and daughter-in-law, Jonathan Samuel Lebeau and Meng Wu of Lexington, S.C; several nieces and nephews, including Maxine Cooper Willis and Lawrence Cooper; a cousin, Martin Gluck and his wife, Susie, of Dallas, Texas; a sister-in-law, Janet G. Klineman; and several grand and great-grand nieces and nephews. The family would especially like to thank the following people whose loving care so greatly enriched Dr. Lebeau's quality of life. These include: Dr. James R. Hodges, Dr. Roxanne Samples, Ms. Bobbie Benson, Ms. Evelyn Gant, Ms. Barbara Harliss, Vance Dunnam, Jr., Jonathan Ford, and Sister Mary Theresa Fox. Memorials in memory of Dr. Lebeau may be made to the "Joliff Foundation," facilitated through the Providence Hospital Foundation at Providence Pavilion, 6901 Medical Parkway, Waco, Texas 76712 Tel# 254-751-4762 or via email to dguyer@phn-waco.org.