This memorial website was created to celebrate the memory of our loved one, I. Stanley Levine who was a gift to the world. He is survived by a loving family: his wife and greatest love Elaine; children Kenneth (Sue); Robert (Mimi); Tina (Bill); and Alan (Jen), and five grandchildren: Kyle, Max, Daniel, Spencer and Sabina.
After working as a lawyer for five decades, Stanley may have harbored thoughts of retiring but he never did. He remained as chairman emeritus at his nationally recognized Brickell Avenue law practice now run by his sons, however, he concentrated on another lifelong devotion - serving the community through what he described as cultural experiences.
Mr. Levine was responsible for keeping Miami Beach's Lincoln Road a traffic-free pedestrian precinct and its revitalization into an artistic and entertainment center at the heart of the Art Deco District. He was founding chairman of the Miami Beach Cultural Arts Council. In addition, he was a board member of the Performing Arts Center Trust, which brought the Carnival Center for Performing Arts to downtown Miami.
Following the success of the Lincoln Road project, he went on to replicate that revitalization in the historic district of Homestead in South Miami-Dade County. That venture involved assembling a three-acre campus renamed ArtSouth.
Mr. Levine was also engaged in yet another revitalization project in Alice Town on the Bahamian island of Bimini. There he produced Heritage Village, which as its name implies is intended to preserve the local history. He was active in helping to improve he lives of at-risk children through education and involvement in the arts.
In addition Mr. Levine owned a ranch in Pagosa Springs, Colorado where he loved to spend time with his family and was dedicated to the local community. Due to his commitment to stewardship of the land, his family was honored with "Outstanding Forest Steward of the Year" award for all of Colorado in 2010.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, September 26, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. at Temple Beth Shalom at 4144 Chase Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida 33140. In lieu of flowers, Stanley would want you to open your hearts to your family, friends and community.
Tributes
Leave a tributeMy Father is a man like no other
He believed in me, protected me, strengthened me, but most of all he loved me unconditionally.
There aren't enough words to describe what my Father means to me and what an influence he still has on my life. It takes a special man to be a Father and a Dad. Love and miss you everyday! T
I'm still waiting for it to sink in that you've moved on from this world. I know you are enjoying and I know you are watching over your family. Just wanted to remind you that you are still very much in our hearts and our thoughts. Xo
Love,
Rene
he chose to dig where, when and how he wanted them to dig to enrich South Beach.
Karen Allison
And
You're a wonderful family.
Fondly,
Diane S. Sepler
Bev & Gene Sulzberger
Professor Keith G Scott, Dacula, Georgia
Mickey and Cynthia Zaret
We have lost our dearest friend of over 50 years. Linda and have the best of memories of Elaine and Stan over the years as we vacationed together to the islands as well as Paris and London.After being married in their home Elaine and Stan went on our honeymoon with us.Stan helped Linda and I start the Linda Ray Children's Center in 1987, and he has served as Vice President
marvin@susan pierce,
miami, Florida
Fondly,
Lloyd Shane
Coreen Falco, Carlos Giordano, Jesus Sumano and Jose Rivera
We share your sorrow and will miss him.
Peter and Ruth Schlossberg
Jann Pitcher
If I could just have one more day to spend with you I would want you to know a few things. In fact, I think you probably do know already, but it would help me to say them out loud to you because I’d want to make sure you truly knew just how important you are to me.
What I admire most about you is how you engage, love and support your family. You often told me about each one of your children and their special gifts. When you spoke about them your eyes would light up with pride. You celebrated the uniqueness in each of them and rejoiced in letting the world know how special they were and how much you loved them. That same special pride extended to all of your grandchildren. Your light shone thru in each one of them. I loved the brief interactions I saw you had with your grandchildren. The immense respect and love they have for you is strong and real.
The love you share with Elaine is simply beautiful. Every person who is around you knows that the bond you have is special and full of unconditional love. You make a great team and chose the perfect life partner. There was never any question that your family was the number one priority in your life. It guided all your decisions, as it should have.
You taught me what a true, close, loving, committed family could be like. You set a shining example of the type of family I hope to have with my children and grandchildren. I thank you for that and will do my best to embody some of your amazing love and support for the rest of my life.
From the first time I met you I felt a special connection with you. I immediately wanted to please you and exceed your very high expectations. You challenged me many times to research more, work harder, find alternate solutions and get very difficult tasks done. I would work extra hard because I felt you were counting on me. I loved to hear excitement in your voice when I could tell you good news about something we were working on. I did it for no other reason, I wanted your respect and approval and I was fortunate to earn that on most occasions. You served me well!
One of my favorite sayings of yours was “I know what I know, but what I’m concerned about is I don’t know what I don’t know”. You were humble, kind, funny and diligent. I never did well across a negotiating table from you (not many people did I suspect), however, I always walked away happy. I loved to see you captivate a crowd. You melted them like butter. You have an amazing way of earning instant respect, yet being personable enough for everyone in the audience to think “what a great guy, I’d love to be his friend”. It’s true. You were one of a kind, just truly amazing.
You told me you wanted to do renewable energy projects with me because you believed in the cause but also because you thought it was “fun” to work together. Well, Mr. Levine, everyone around you will tell you that YOU made everything fun. You saw the joy and delight in every day. I often thought you looked at the world with the wonderment and delight of a child. Your enthusiasm was contagious. I loved being around you, as did everyone I know. I feel grateful for that sense of enjoyment you instilled in me.
We never know when it will be our last day, however, I want to live like you did. Making plans decades out in the future, living and believing and dreaming of the next month, year, decade. I thought about the song “Live like you are dying” today and thought, no, that’s not Stanley. His motto would be “Live like you are living forever!”
I believed that you would live forever. I can’t imagine a time when I don’t get your cheery phone calls and your quick wit humor. I can’t imagine doing something I’m really proud of and not being able to dial your number and say “Stanley, guess what...” It didn’t matter what it was, you were fully present. I know you were that way for everyone in your family too. I’m just grateful for the time and attention I got from you. It made my day and will help shape the person I am for the rest of my life.
I believe you were a gift to this world and I was a very lucky soul to have a close relationship with you. Please know, your spirit carries on and lives in all of your family and the other lucky ones you’ve touched. Your spirit will fill us up with a joy of life to carry on in your honor.
I honor you, I respect you, I love you and I will miss you more than any words could ever convey.
Love,
Elaine Wood
Leave a Tribute
I still miss you Stanley. I feel that you are still around, I really do.
I have been working very hard towards one objective: to do everything I possibly can with my family so that they will love and miss me a fraction of how your family love and miss you. This is the most profound influence you had on me and have made my life truly meaningful. I am truly enjoying it.
That's my shirt!
I worked with Mr. Levine for a few years. On this particular day, he wore a white polo company shirt for this picture. The photographer told him it was too bright and would not look good when printed. So, Mr. Levine came out of the conference room and saw me walking down the hall with this shirt. Calls me over and says, "Hey, can I borrow your shirt for a moment?" I had no idea what it was for but said "sure Mr. Levine." Took the shirt right off and he lent me the polo in the mean time. Great guy, great memories. You are missed sir.