Linda Leibowitz

November 10, 1938 - June 6, 2012

Linda Leibowitz, daughter of the late Rudolph and Dorothy Leibowitz, passed away on Wednesday, June 6, 2012 at her home. Graveside services will be at Rose Hill Cemetery in Kansas City at 1 p.m. Friday, June 8th. Linda was born in Atchison, Kansas on November 10, 1938. She graduated from Atchison High School and the University of Missouri – Kansas City, Conservatory of Music. Linda grew up in Atchison, but spent her adult years at her home in Prairie Village, Kansas. According to Linda, “Music was my entire life since the age of 8.” She was one of the first singers with the Kansas City Lyric Opera, and also sang at weddings and other events while living in Kansas City. Linda lived in New York City from 1973 to 1985 while she pursued her dream to be an opera singer. There, she was also a music and voice teacher, and performed opera in such places as Lincoln Center. When she moved back to Prairie Village in 1985, she continued to teach music and voice lessons from her home. She developed close personal relationships with many of her students, at least two of whom went on to become professional singers. On Linda’s first day in New York, she met the love of her life, Tony Pacheco (a.k.a. “My Tony.”) They loved to travel and visited almost 20 countries between 1978 and 1985. They spent more than 38 years together, and were married in 1992 at their home in Prairie Village. Tony lovingly took care of Linda through her numerous health issues over the years. Cherishing Linda’s memory are her husband, Tony Pacheco, her two sisters, Valerie Freed of Overland Park and Bronna (Spencer) Gerber of Leawood, two nephews, Randy (Dini) Freed and Zachary (Julie) Gerber, of Overland Park, a niece, Julie Freed, of Ashland, Oregon, two great-nieces, Arianna Marshank and Evie Freed, a great-nephew, Wyatt Gerber, and several close cousins and many adoring students. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the University of Missouri – Kansas City, Conservatory of Music and Dance, or the charity of your choice.