The Obituary of Steven Paul Levine Z”L (of Blessed Memory)

The Obituary of Steven Paul Levine Z”L (of Blessed Memory)

Shmuel ben Yaacov halevi v'Perla February 1, 1950 - August 7, 2021

Written By Barbara Davis-Levine

February 1, 1950 was a time of great celebration for the Levine family because Steven Paul Levine was born. From now on, August 7, 2021 will always be a time of great sorrow for Steve's friends and family because he has left his Earthly body to return home. Though Steve's physical presence no longer remains, his light and spirit will always be with us. He shared a little spark of his soul with each of us and for that reason, our lives will never be the same. He made us better, and because of him, we will continue to share his light long after his passing, and the world will be a better place because of it.

On February 1, 1950, Eugene Levine and Pearl Boxer Levine celebrated with tears of joy the birth of their first-born child, Steven Paul Levine. From the very beginning, Steve was a ball of unlimited energy; running, laughing, or impishly grinning, he always exhibited his exuberance for life in everything he did. He loved meeting people and making new friends and he always went out of his way to help them.

Growing up in West Nyack, New York, Steve wanted to do a lot of things, but his parents encouraged him to make wise choices because they worked full-time in their family business, Levine's Dry Goods Store in Pearl River, NY, and had limited funds and limited time for them to dedicate to Steve. They did the best they could and taught Steve the importance of outstanding customer service. One of Steve's first extracurricular activities was scouting in the BSA. He became a Cub Scout, then a Boy Scout. While in the Boy Scouts, Steve was so proud to be selected as a member of the Order of the Arrow. His only regret was that he was never able to qualify to be an Eagle Scout. He had a bad arm from an injury when he was hit by a car. Because of that permanent injury, he could never fulfill the swimming requirement necessary to become an Eagle Scout.

Some of Steve's favorite memories were from his time at Clarkstown Senior High School (Class of '68). Throughout his four years there, he was part of the Class Council, in Band (tenor saxophone), in Chorus, on the Junior Prom Planning Committee, on the Junior Class Card Party Committee, part of the SAGA Yearbook Staff, and Wrestling Junior Varsity Team where he proudly wore his letterman jacket and matching scarf.

Steve also was the self-appointed manager of the Varsity Majorettes, a position he creatively made up on his own. He loved being surrounded by beautiful, young women and would drive as many of them that he could fit inside his “nerdy” 1961 Rambler American. He was the envy of a lot of guys in high school. Some of his dearest, platonic longtime relationships were with several of those Majorettes including Head Drum Majorette and best friend for life, Bonnie Gaffney. In addition to all he did in high school, it wasn't unusual for Steve to be working three different jobs after school, a drive-in movie theater attendant, a sous-chef and busboy at a restaurant, and a bellman at a hotel where he personally catered to a lot of “made men”. It's no wonder that Steve ended up with pneumonia and missed out on attending Woodstock that he had tickets for.

After graduating from Clarkstown Senior High School, Steve attended SUNY Delhi and got a degree in Hotel Restaurant Management. He was also a proud member of Phi Sigma Tau Fraternity. He found out in his senior year that Disney was opening a new theme park in Florida and there were going to be three job positions available for the graduates. A headhunter was coming to the campus after Spring Break to interview any senior who was interested. Steve got the bright idea to get ahead of everyone and called the headhunter to interview him for one of the positions while Steve was “visiting” the area.

Steve drove to Florida during Spring Break, did a stunning interview with the headhunter, and closed with a handshake to seal the deal on giving Steve the coveted position in Orlando. But the headhunter stated there was a catch; Steve had to graduate. Apparently, the headhunter had gotten Steve's transcripts and knew that Steve wasn't passing. Steve stood up and reached out his hand. He then shook it and got the headhunter to agree to give him the coveted Orlando position if he managed to graduate!

Knowing he was failing all of his classes, clever Steve made a deal with each of his professors to base his class grade on his final exam. He told each professor that he only needed just their one class to graduate, but in reality, Steve needed a passing grade in each of his classes for him to graduate. Amazingly, he did well enough on each final exam that he passed with a 2.000005 GPA! In addition, Steve got the coveted position in Orlando and the other two students, who were top in their class, got lesser desirable locations in Florida.

Steve used to joke that he graduated in that ten percent of the class that made the upper ninety percent possible! Steve always believed in himself and said that grades did not define him; his determination did. He had some learning disabilities that were never diagnosed when he was in school, but he managed to overcome them. Steve always wanted to be an inspiration to youth. He would often say, “I want to prove to those students in the same percentile I was in that their grades are not a deterrent to what they can achieve in life and/or business. My grades were my motivator to show everybody that I was no dummy. I was determined to make something of myself and to bless others through philanthropy and as a mentor.”

After working for many years in Orlando for hotels and restaurants, Steve ended up working in Hotel Management, Real Estate as a Realtor® in Orlando, Apartment Management – Leasing and Marketing, and then finally, Publishing. His accomplishments and accolades are innumerable. He is the former EVP/National Sales Trainer at Haas Publishing Company in Norcross, Georgia where he created The Apartment Guide and The Perfect Wedding Guide. He is the former National Sales Trainer at Homes & Land Magazines in Tallahassee, Florida. He was President of Steve Levine Real Estate Media, Owner/President of Legacy Publishing Group, LLC, Senior Director of Ignite Energy (Now part of ACN), Executive Publisher of H.U.G.E. Magazine (Health Under Government Employment) – SANAA Publishing, LLC, Publisher of Real Estate Executive Magazine and Builder/Agent Magazine, Publisher/Partner of Rising Star Magazine, Profiles Magazine, and Premier Agent Magazine, Partner/Business Coach of Coaching & Connections for Small Business, and Executive Publisher of Small Business Today Magazine. Steve was featured in “Who's Who in Professional Speaking” and Who's Who in Sales & Marketing” in 1987 as a Member of the National Speakers Association.

Steve's philanthropy is equally extensive. He was a Platinum Board Member at Night of Superstars, Chairperson at Night of Superstars, Board Member of Hebrew Order of David -Tikvah, Former Board Member of Hebrew Order of David – Galil, Brand Ambassador at Including Kids, Inc. (Inkids Autism Center and Parent to an autistic son), Board Member of Cease Addiction Now, Board Member of Phoenix Charities: Stop the Demand (Human Trafficking), and former Board Member of the Altus Foundation.

Steve has been duly recognized by the U.S. Congress, Office of the Mayor of Houston, and a multi-gold winning Paralympian. On top of that, Steve and his wife and business partner, Barbara Davis-Levine, have been recognized in three books written by Hank Moore have been nominated for Pulitzer Prizes for Steve's and his wife Barbara's contributions to small businesses and support of so many others. In recognition of Steve's 40 Years in Publishing, Steve was given a City of Houston Proclamation naming June 10th (the date in 1979 that he started his publication career) as "STEVE LEVINE DAY" in Houston, Texas! Also, at that same event, Steve was presented with an Olympic Gold Medal (not an actual 1st Place Medal), but one that is presented to visiting dignitaries who attended the XXX Olympiad London 2012 by multi-gold medal Paralympian, Kevin Saunders (who has sat on every President's Physical Fitness Council over the last two decades) for Steve's and wife Barbara's philanthropy and community support.

Steve was instrumental in keeping the PHI SIGMA TAU fraternity brothers and DELTA ZETA TAU sorority sisters together through the pandemic by continuing to update the database with members not previously contacted and arranging Zoom calls to visit with each other and promote SUNY Delhi. In addition, Steve successfully organized and found many missing alumni for the Clarkstown Senior High 50th Year Class Reunion with the help of other former classmates including dear friends Johnny and Patty Luongo, Bonnie Gaffney, and Murray Bauer.

Barbara and Steve - Partners in life and in business

Partners in life and in business, Steve leaves behind his wife of 22 years of marriage, Barbara Bram Davis-Levine. He also leaves behind his beloved sister, Tracey Levine, adored sons, Jason Levine and Timothy Levine, plus treasured daughter-in-law, Renea Levine. Steve was always a protective, big brother of his younger sister Tracey. Like a lot of siblings, Steve loved to tease his sister, but it was always done in a lighthearted manner. Steve was so proud of his son Jason's accomplishments in everything he did. He loved so much how Renea had such a sweet, special relationship with Steve's autistic son, Timothy. Even though Steve was the stepfather of Jerome Davis and Gina Davis-Dennen, he loved them too and appreciated their caring spirits. He also got a big kick out of Gina’s husband, Brad Dennen’s sense of humor. Having a sense of humor was a requirement to be part of Barbara’s family! In fact, when Steve proposed marriage to Barbara, Jerome and Gina warned Steve that the whole family was crazy, especially Barbara!!!

Steve and Barbara lived life to the fullest. In spite of their ups and downs from floods to illness, they never let adversity define them. As business partners working together for 22 years, they complemented each other. They did everything together, which could sometimes lead to friction between them and make them look like the “Batttling Bickersons”; but they always patched things up in due time because they realized their love for each trumped everything else. Steve used to joke and say, “I married well but Barbara didn't!” In reality, they both admired each other for what their strengths were. Barbara was always amazed at Steve's tremendous organization skills, tenacity, and self-discipline. Quite opposites in some ways, Barbara always liking to get up at “the crack of noon”, Steve arose every morning at 5:30 AM. He attended morning minyan services at United Orthodox Synagogue (UOS) over the years and more recently Congregation Beth Yeshurun (CBY) morning minyan in the Greenfield Chapel. Steve was so proud to be a Levite and oftentimes attended two minyans each morning just so there would be enough men present for a minyan. He was equally proud of his limited-edition, work of art “Rainbow Tallit” by the famous artist, Yaacov Agam, that Steve received as a wedding gift from his wife, Barbara, and Barbara’s beloved mother, Lillian Bram Miller Z”L. He wore it every morning with his tefillin when he attended synagogue to daven (pray).

Steve was brought up as a very Reformed Jew, and even at his Bar Mitzvah he didn't lay tefillin. Steve's first wife, Margaret, wasn't Jewish. Eventually, their marriage crumbled, and they decided it was better for them to go their separate ways. After their divorce, for the most part they were civil with each other for the sake of their autistic son, Timothy. One of Steve's struggles was that he had lost his sense of being a Jew. Because of that, he only wanted to date Jewish women so he could rekindle his faith. After Barbara and Steve met, they found they shared a love of Mickey Mouse and eventually had a Disney themed wedding with Barbara wearing a white Minnie Mouse hat with ears and a veil and Steve wore a black top hat with Mickey ears.

Everyone dressed in a theme of each one's favorite Disney character. One person came as Cinderella before the transformation, and another guest dressed like a Dalmatian. The wedding was quite a blast and even had two large blocks of ice sculptures of Mickey and Minnie in full wedding attire. The Chuppah was made of a wrought iron gazebo with Mickey head profiles in it on top of concrete columns. Even the four layered wedding cake had a different porcelain bride and groom Mickey and Minnie figurine on top of each layer. The wedding was officiated by UOS Rabbi Joseph Radinsky Z”L and Steve's longtime friend from Clarkstown High School in Nyack, NY, Rabbi Kerry Baker, who was a Hillel Rabbi in Austin at the University of Texas.

At the end of the ceremony, Rabbi Radinsky Z”L surprised everyone with his impromptu singing of the Mickey Mouse song. All the guests had been given kazoos to hum the song with but most of them didn't know how to use a kazoo!!! Before the ceremony ended and the Ketubah was presented, Rabbi Radinsky Z”L said jokingly to Steve, “In this Ketubah, you promise Barbara everything and she promises you nothing. I hope you promise to keep your promises!” There was so much music and dancing with over 300 people in attendance and it was catered by the world-famous chef, Yaacov Shteyman. The highlight of the wedding was when Steve and Barbara departed in a white horse-drawn carriage decked out in Mickey Mouse balloons.

Under the Chuppah

Photography by Mark Katz

Steve & Barbara's Mickey Mouse themed wedding - June 6, 1999

Photography by Mark Katz

Steve and Barbara had many struggles throughout their marriage including having their home flood four times, heart attacks (Barbara, Steve, and Jerome), and injuries from car accidents. In spite of everything, they lived each day to the fullest and never had any regrets. At Barbara's encouragement, she finally got Steve to lay tefillin, something he had never done before – even at his Bar Mitzvah! It was at a dinner at the home of Rabbi Yossi and Rebbetzin Esty Zaklikofsky when they first moved to Pearland to start a Chabad synagogue there. Barbara took Rabbi Yossi aside and asked him to get Steve to lay tefillin because he had never done it before. Steve seemed to be fearful of trying whenever Barbara previously encouraged him to perform the mitzvah (commandment of Jewish law/act of kindness). This time, to Barbara’s delight, Steve finally did it and the mitzvah was accomplished!

Once Steve performed the mitzvah of laying tefillin, he was exhilarated by it and wanted to learn more. He finally was connecting with his Jewish spirit, and he did it with a fervor. Barbara's father-in-law, Sol Davis Z”L (father of her late husband, Steven Davis Z”L), helped Steve acquire his first tefillin and Sol treated Steve like a “bar mitzvah” along with UOS Rabbi Barry Gelman and the other morning minyan participants at UOS. Steve became quite proficient in laying tefillin, even though he often said, “I feel like a mule in the Kentucky Derby!” because the congregation davened (prayed in Hebrew) so quickly. Sadly, after the last flood, Steve special tefillin was irreparably damaged. He was quite upset when he thought he had lost both his tefillin and tallit. He felt partially better when he found out that Barbara had salvaged his treasured tallis and taken it to the dry cleaners.

Soon after, Rabbi Yossi called Steve to ask him if he needed anything. Steve replied, “I need tefillin!” Rabbi Yossi said to Steve that he would check around and get back with him. A short time later, Rabbi Yossi presented a new pair of tefillin to Steve through a kind benefactor who wanted to donate the tefillin in his late son's memory. That son was Mendel Cotlar. Unbeknownst to Steve or the Rabbi, months before the flood, Barbara had called Steve at work and asked him to lay tefillin in the merit of Mendel's speedy recovery. Steve was confused about who this person was and why he should do it. Barbara explained that she had read on the internet that requests were being made to help Mendel recover from his coma. She didn't know him either but knew that Steve would want to help after she explained it. Barbara's son Jerome also performed the laying of tefillin in merit of Mendel when Rabbi Lazaroff came over to the house and brought a new mezuzah. So how miraculous and divine that Steve should be repaid for his mitzvah by a new pair of tefillin from the family of Mendel Cotlar! From then on, Steve would always include Mendel in his morning prayers.

Steve's caring nature and his desire to want to help everyone in their time of need was always so typical of him. Barbara and he shared that passion together and that's why Barbara found Steve to be so attractive. It was from his beauty within. Their biggest delight was to find youth and freely mentor them to become successful entrepreneurs and businesspeople. Many youngsters are successful today because of Steve (along with Barbara by his side). May Steve's legacy continue on forever in making the world a better place and may his memory always be for a blessing.

To view Steve's funeral service, go to www.vimeo.com/586571330.