Kingston and the surrounding area suffered a devastating loss on Monday with the passing of Dr. Neil Lieblich, a local pediatrician for 25 years and a partner in the medical practice Pine Street Pediatric Associates.

Neil – or “Dr. Neil,” as our son, Marc, always called him – was an outstanding physician with a brilliant mind, a gentle touch, an infectious smile and a heart of gold. He truly cared about each and every patient of his, and the patients loved him in return.

It’s no exaggeration to say Neil was Marc’s doctor from Day 1 of our son’s life. When Rhona found out Marc would have to be born by Caesarean section, and that a pediatrician needed to be present in the operating room, she called Neil (who we had known for several years through our synagogue), and he immediately cleared his calendar for the afternoon of the surgery so that he could attend. That, in a nutshell, was Neil – always putting others first.

In the years that followed, whenever we had a concern or a question about Marc’s health, a phone call to Pine Street would result in a return call from Neil almost immediately, no matter how busy he was. That, in a nutshell, was Neil – always putting others first.

And even when Neil’s own health began to fail, he found the strength to come to work as often as possible so that he could treat the children around whom his life and career revolved. That, in a nutshell, was Neil – always putting others first.

The condolences of a saddened community go out to Neil’s wife, Joyce; to their children, Ross and Erica; to his mother, Elaine; and to all the doctors, nurses and staff at Pine Street Pediatrics. They, and we, have lost a great man, the likes of whom may never be seen again around these parts.

Donations in Neil’s memory may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, 11 Marshall Road, Suite 1-H, Wappingers Falls, N.Y. 12590; the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 31160, Hartford, Conn. 06150-1160; St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn. 38105-1942; or the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research, 122 South Michigan Ave., Suite 1700, Chicago, Ill. 60603.

Remembrance messages about Neil can be found on the Web site of the Simpson-Gaus Funeral Home.