Memorial Service
For
Milton Levine
November 19,1934 - May 22, 2004
We have gathered here today to mourn the loss and celebrate the rich life of Milton Levine, beloved husband to Billie, Son-in-Law to Rose, father to Brian and Stephanie, Grandfather to Leah, Jackie, Lucas and L.B., Father-in-Law to "Sha", special friend to Doug, and to the many other people whose lives he touched both personally as a friend and professionally over the course of his impressive career.
While Milton was not enamored with organized religion, and while I expect the following excerpt would not meet with his approval, after discussing his life with his family I have chosen to begin our service with a bit of Hebrew prose, I believe this is an especially appropriate tribute to Milt's life.
Brucheem Hachayeem Ba-Olam
Brucheem Hachayeem Ba-adam
Brucheem Hachayeem Tsa-Dee-Keem
Zecker Milton Levine L'vracha
Precious is life in the world
Precious is life and humanity
Precious is the life of righteous people
The memory of Milton Levine blesses our lives
Centuries ago the Roman philosopher Seneca wrote:
"In the presence of death, we must continue to sing the song of life. We must be able to accept death and go from its presence better able to bear our burdens and to lighten the load of others. Out of our sorrows should come understanding. Through our sorrows, we join with all of those before who have had to suffer and all of those who will yet have to do so.
Let us not be gripped by the fear of death. If another day be added to our lives, let us joyfully receive it, but let us not anxiously depend on our tomorrows.
Though we grieve the deaths of our loved ones, we accept them and hold on to our memories as precious gifts. Let us make the best of our loved ones while they are with us, and let us not bury our love with death."
Eulogy
Milton lived life to its fullest. He approached life with vigor, with curiosity and with enthusiasm. He left life in the way he would have chosen: quickly, without long suffering, and, most importantly, without being a burden on others.
I had the pleasure of sitting with Billie, Stephanie and Brian this past Sunday evening to discuss this service and to have them share their memories of Milt. I was at once struck by their deep love and affection for him, and despite their deep sorrow over their loss they were "at peace." Milt lived his life to its fullest, and they are comforted by the enduring gifts that he has left them. His selflessness, his many accomplishments, the lasting beauty of his art, his investment in the welfare of others, and his personal dignity and integrity.
Milt and Billie had a special relationship. One filled with enduring love, mutual respect, and a continuing friendship. They shared and enjoyed a full and rich partnership. Brian and Stephanie recounted their experience in growing up in a household where the family gathered together to share both the evening meal, and the day's events. Brian noted that as he grew older he was amazed that there were actually families who did not talk. The Levine household certainly did not fit the mold of the modern American let's make an appointment to get together family.
Professionally Milt was a vocational rehabilitation counselor. He set out to be an Industrial Arts teacher, but at Billie's suggestion changed course. He was passionate about his work with the disabled. He was strongly committed to protecting people's rights and recognized how important work is to one's self concept and personal and social identity.
Milt achieved national recognition for his expertise in the specialized area of sheltered workshops. Over the course of his career and into retirement he was a sought after consultant, speaker, and college educator. He also served as a Hearing Officer settling disputes resulting from the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act, and as a consultant to the Narcotics Commission.
Billie noted that Milt was at his core a traditionalist - she told me that when they met he started out as a "50s" guy, but under her tutelage he ended up as a "90s guy." She also mentioned something about admiring his "great butt", and so I can only deduce that over the course of their nearly 46 years of marriage their physical attraction for one another also endured.
Milt was multi-talented, loved gadgets (the ever-prresent "boy" in him) and was a talented artist. The Levine home is filled with Milt's post-retirement endeavors: a remarkably landscaped backyard, astonishing photographs of the southwest, beautiful woodcarvings, a gourmet kitchen to compliment his talents as a chef, and any number of electronic innovations such as automatic faucets. He also was a devotee of the performing arts- a love he developed through Billie's example.
Milt was certainly not a conformist. Be it his views on religion; his advocacy for persons with disabilities; his disregard for the directions that were packed with the gadgets he purchased and installed; or his devotion to his family and grandkids - he did things his own unique way. It was this determination and gusto for life that made him so special. The beauty and success of his accomplishments are his enduring legacy.
Now, I must also mention that Milt loved seafood. A love that he brought all the way from Long Island to the desert. In fact Billie, Stephanie and Brian noted that they selected this location for today's memorial service because it is so close to one of Milt's favorite restaurants - The Salt Cellar. Out of respect to Milt's we should all pledge to have at least one meal there in the near future as a tribute to his gastronomic expertise.
Now, I would like to provide an opportunity for others to share their memories of Milt:
Billie has shared several letters that she received from friends who could not be here today.
Bob and Lvnn Johnson
Miltone, this is a note from Robert A. and Lynn
Although it's 50 years since I first introduced you to Lynn and your first reaction was that I could do better, that she's really not so pretty. You would have to admit that she really is pretty, and by the way, how many times in the past 50 years did she remind you.
We can't forget your apartment on Chester court and the time we put down the carpeting that we had picked up from your old girlfriend's parent's apartment.
Your apartment in Elmhurst was " a God-damned Showplace", at least according to Uncle Louie.
The tones of fun that can never be replaced. A friendship where there was never a harsh word uttered among us.
Bob will certainly miss chatting with you each week and solving so many problems that no one else could.
You were always a true friend.
You will be missed and remembered forever.
From Rudv and Marilyn Dubin
Fifty-six years is a long time to know a friend - but it is also too short a time. Twenty years ago, we old friends had a 50th birthday party at the Neville Hotel. We had a blast between the laughing and the teasing and the insults. Nobody can insult you like old friends and get away with it. That was a great memory, so four couples decided to have a 70th reunion birthday party in New Orleans this November. Milt has played us dirty, he won't be joining us
One of my oldest friends was so skinny as a teenager that the nickname "bones" was put on him. In fact, when my son was about 10, Milt came over our house to swim in our newly installed pool. The fact is that he forgot his bathing suit and the only one we had that would fit him was our son's. They didn't call him "bones" for nothing.
We double dated lot. One date I remember was that we were too young to drive but I carried my old brother's driver's license and borrowed my parent's car. It was a cold night and we ended up "parking" with our dates. To set the mood, the engine was off and the radio was playing love songs. We finally got out of the car to walk the girls home. When we got back to the car to head home, the battery was dead. It was the middle of a cold night, without a valid driver's license and a car that wouldn't move. How we survived that night still baffles me.
As head of AHRC, Milt was a respected member of his profession. When my son needed a project in high school, it was Milt he turned to in order to make a slide presentation of his work with the mentally and physically disabled. Milt gave him free rein and he got an A+ for his project. Thanks Milt.
I still remember my wedding when Milt was an usher and was asked to witness the wedding certificate. His brother was married a few weeks before and he noticed that our marriage certificate was different. It was then that he found out that we had been married secretly four months before in a civil ceremony so that I wouldn't have to go to a base where I couldn't take my wife.
When we got out of the service and we were all beginning our married lives, we had our first get-together. Since none of us had extra money, Milt and Billy fixed up their apartment as nightclub so that we could party. This may sound like nothing, but it is nice things like this that I remember about my friend.
I have load of memories of my friend Milt. In high school, the guys used to chip in to buy a pack of cigarettes to smoke in the Avalon Theater balcony.
We had to finish the pack as our parents wouldn't allow us to smoke. Some of us got sick from smoking so many.
As life went on we ended up in Florida and Milt and Billie in Arizona. A few years ago we attended a wedding in California and stayed with them for 3 days. In retrospect, I felt very close to my life-long friend and will cherish that time with him.
Now that Milt is gone, I am reflecting on a bunch of kids from Brooklyn who grew up and went through life with its ups and downs and with happy times and sad.
Goodbye Milt
Goodbye my old friend.
With love Rudy and Marilyn
Sheri Rabino
Milt makes a lasting impression. I love that his principles really guide his behavior. He showed me how he practiced his principles when I visited him at work . more then 20 years ago when he was the Director of a Sheltered Workshop for Mentally Retarded adults in Nassau County Long Island . During the morning I spent with him he asked a young man, a client, working at the facility to bring him a glass of water with ice. He specified that he wanted half a glass of water with ice. The young man returned with a full glass of water without ice. Milt told him that it was unsatisfactory and repeated his request, it took the man two more attempts until he succeeded in bringing what he was asked to. I don't think Milt thought that he had to explain himself to me, but on this occasion he did. He told me that since he knew the man understood the request and could remember the details he was sure the man was capable of bringing exactly what he was asked to bring. Milt was showing respect for this man by challenging him to use his abilities. An uninformed observer could think that Milt was being unduly harsh on a educationally challenged man, but the opposite was true. If Milt had accepted less than he requested from the man he would be telling him that he didn't believe in him and that he was incapable of performing the task. It would have been easier for Milt to accept whatever the man brought on the first two attempts, but Milt was ready to work hard for his client's benefit. The client's benefit was Milt's only concern, a rare quality for a man in his status in the field of rehabilitation.
Milt cared enough about his clients to challenge them. He had very high professional standards firstly from himself and then from others. He didn't ask people to act in a way that he didn't himself. When I have remarked on occasion about how much he cares for his clients he would seem embarrassed.
I felt enriched from every encounter I had with Milt, sometimes just happier because of his humor, sometimes more knowledgeable because of new information he gave me.
It was a wonderful feeling to feel that Milt liked me. I think what I said about his high standards was true in all his inter personal relationships. He didn't have much patience for inferior performance, when he felt that the person was capable of more. It will be easy to remember Milt and thinking about him will give me great joy.
love sheri
from Cousin Irene
Milt was my 1st cousin because he married my favorite cousin Billie but I never considered him my cousin through marriage. He was my cousin.
I have known Milt since I was about 13 years old so you all can figure out how old I am. Just keep in mind I am Billie's baby cousin. I remembered him at my sweet sixteen and two weeks later was his wedding. When I graduated high school he made me a piece of jewelry and I was so proud of it because he made it for me. I was married 3 years later and even though we didn't see each other as often as we liked, there was always a bond between the four of us. We enjoyed meeting at century village in West Palm Beach when we visited the folks. We had so much fun especially when we went to jai all. When we moved to New Jersey we tried to get together and we always had a great time. Milt loved to cook dinner when we went there because he knew when he came to my house I ordered out. We all enjoyed going to our cousin Bevy and Ray's bed and breakfast in the Berkshire s along with Seymour and Bunny. The four of us drove up together and even if we used our car, Milt loved to be the driver. He was always such a sport and the first one to pick up a check.
We celebrated many happy occasions together like the marriages of our children, 50th anniversary parties of my parents and his in -laws and many family gatherings.
Milt was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and I was so impressed with what a terrific son in law he was to my aunt Rose and uncle Jack. He was just a wonderful human being.
We are so saddened that your life ended before your time, but when is a good time?.
Even though we didn't see you as often as we would have liked, you will really be missed by us and everyone who knew you. You were an asset to the Suffis/ Feldman family and we were proud and happy you were a part of us for over 45 years .
There will always be a special place in our hearts for our cousin Milton Levine
Irene & Allan Chernack
As a tribute to Milt's love of the sea I offer the following poem written by John Masefield.
Sea-Fever
I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by; And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking, And a gray mist on the sea's face, and a gray dawn breaking. I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied; And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying, And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying. I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life, To the gull's way and the whale's way, where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover, And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over
And so as our tribute to Milt's life draws to a close let me say...
Memory is a precious possession. It captures the past and trains it to our need. The harshness of old events are softened by vagueness, and the pleasures of happy moments are sharpened by vivid imagination. Loved ones linger on in the glory of their individual uniqueness. In life they willed to live and hewed the path of their personal difference. In death they transcend decay and find their niche in fond remembrances. No person is defined by the sameness of another. If it were so, memory would fade from generalities.
Calling Hours
Billie, Brian and Stephanie invite you to join them for calling hours at 120 E. South Fork Drive in Ahwatukee today from 4:00 to 6:00, and tomorrow from Noon until 5:00.
Tribute
People are often defined by the causes that they support, One of Milt's favorite causes was:
Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic 3627 E. Indian School Road
Suite #108 Phoenix, Arizona 85018
You might consider making a donation in his honor.
Please Rise:
Let us all stand in a moment of silent tribute to the life and memory of Milton Levine.
Although our loved one is no longer alive
Milt is still part of us.
Milt lives on in the lives of those he touched,
Milt's influence continues to guide the choices of loved ones
Milt is present in the choices of family and friends
Milt's memory is alive and well.
Zecker tsadikim Milton Levine L'vracha
Let the memory of our righteous departed Milton Levine continue to bless our thoughts and actions
Shalom