Ralph Liebman; Ralphs Executive and Grocery Industry Leader

Ralph Liebman, who worked his way up from apprentice meat cutter to executive vice president of Ralphs Grocery Co. and was elected chairman of the California Grocers Assn., has died. He was 62.

Liebman, who retired earlier this year, died Tuesday night at his home in Long Beach after a six-month battle with liver cancer.

“He was an exemplary person,” said Byron Allumbaugh, Ralphs chairman and chief executive officer. “He was a forceful man with strong beliefs, great pride and above all else, unquestionable integrity.”

Liebman became executive vice president of Ralphs in 1977 and supervised the 166-store chain’s manufacturing, distribution, warehousing and construction operations. One of the major projects he oversaw was the $50-million, 170,000-square-foot warehouse off the Golden State Freeway near Glendale built in the mid-1980s.

“The inventory is on-line all the time,” Liebman told The Times, introducing the facility in 1987. “The computer knows what’s here.”

Highly respected in the supermarket industry, Liebman was elected chairman of the California Grocers Assn. in 1982. He also served as treasurer of the Western Assn. of Food Chains and in the early 1970s was a board member of the Southern California Grocers Assn.

After graduating from South Gate High School, Liebman joined Ralphs in 1951 as an apprentice meat cutter in Santa Ana. He quickly advanced to meat manager then meat merchandising supervisor and went on to other departments.

“For a long period of time,” he once said, “I changed job titles about every two years.”

Before becoming executive vice president, Liebman for two years was senior vice president in charge of Ralphs’ northern division. He supervised 17 supermarkets in San Francisco, San Jose and Sacramento.

Equally dedicated to community service, Liebman recently was elected president of the Food Industries Circle, which raises money for the City of Hope National Medical Center. He served on the boards of directors of the Boy Scouts of America’s Bay Area Council and the Long Beach Yacht Club.

Liebman is survived by his wife, Maureen; a daughter, Sheryl Ann Dennis of Albuquerque, N.M.; a stepdaughter, Dawn Potter of Corona, Calif., and six grandchildren. Another daughter, Robyn, preceded him in death.

Requiem Mass will be said at 1:30 p.m. Monday at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, 540 Olive Ave., Long Beach. Memorial services will follow at 3 p.m. at the Long Beach Yacht Club, 6201 Apian Way, Long Beach. Hewill be buried privately at sea.

The family has requested that memorial donations be made to St. Anthony’s Catholic Church.