Alberta ‘Bertie’ Libbey, 86

Lifelong Atlantic Beach resident was an opera singer and longtime real estate agent

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Alberta Libbey sang opera at famous New York City venues and went into her father’s real estate business. The lifelong Atlantic Beach resident was known to friends and family as “Bertie.”

Libbey died on March 9, of what her family said was natural causes. She was 86.
Born on Sept. 25, 1930, in Atlantic Beach, she attended Lawrence schools through eighth grade, and then House in the Pines High School in Norton, Mass., her son Richard Libbey, said. After high school, she went to the New England Conservatory of Music.

The Atlantic Beach resident performed in both “La Boheme” and “Madame Butterfly” at Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, as well as other music venues. She sang with the choir at St. Ignatius and St. John’s Lutheran churches in Long Beach for many years, Richard said.

“She loved to help people,” he said, noting her work as a real estate agent and the joy she felt putting people in their homes. She became a licensed real estate agent in 1948. Her father, Mauro Salazar, founded M.A. Salazar and Atlantic Beach Associates in 1926, which moved from Long Beach to Atlantic Beach a year later. Both real estate firms propelled the early development of Atlantic Beach. Salazar’s work included the sale of the first Atlantic Beach Bridge, Libbey added, in the late 1940s. Bertie later took over the businesses from her father in 1978.

Bertie married Frederick Clinton Libbey, from Milton, Mass. in 1954 and the two were together for 34 years. Frederick died 11 days after Bertie. He was 92. Her leisure time included traveling. She often went to London to visit relatives, and particularly enjoyed visiting India and China, Richard said. She also appreciated local amenities as a member of the Atlantic Beach Club and Sun and Surf Beach Club, both of which are in Atlantic Beach

“I've known Bertie my entire life,” Assemblywoman Melissa “Missy” Miller (R-Atlantic Beach), said. “I played in her house as a child. Bertie always had a warm smile and an encouraging word.” She added: “She will always be remembered as an integral part of Atlantic Beach history!”

She is survived by her brother, Mickey; her ex-husband Frederick; five of her six children including Catherine Behar, Merri Romas, Richard Libbey, Victoria Simao and Clinton Libbey. Her eldest son, Frederick “Chip” Libbey died in 2001. She had 12 grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Her funeral was held at Christopher T. Jordan’s Funeral Home in Island Park on March 20. A memorial service for her was held at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Long Beach on March 21.

Instead of flowers, Bertie’s family requested a tax-deductible donation to be made in her memory to South Nassau Communities Hospital’s Dialysis Center. To donate, go to www.southnassau.org and click on Give on the top of the page or send checks payable to South Nassau Communities Hospital and reference the Alberta S. Libbey Memorial Fund to South Nassau Communities Hospital Attn: Development PO Box 843 in Baldwin, NY 11510.