Lawrence Levey

September 14, 1931 - December 20, 2014

Lawrence Harold (Larry) Levey, age 83 of Avon Park, passed away on Saturday, December 20, 2014. He was born in Watertown, N.Y., the son of the late Fred and Jeanne Levey. He attended North Adams State Teachers College in Massachusetts in 1949 and then joined the Army in 1951 and was sent to Korea. After being discharged from the Army, he earned a B.A. degree from Queens College in New York City and an M.A. degree in psychology from Michigan State University. He worked mainly as an administrator in the mental health field in Colorado and in Michigan for the departments of mental health and corrections. In 1987, he and his late wife Juanita, moved to Avon Park, FL, from Ionia, MI. Larry became active within the community, especially after he married Elaine Gardner in 1996. The two had been correspondents for the News-Sun, which, in 1996, asked them to create a first-ever photo-history called “Yesterday: A Family Album of Highlands County”. Larry loved to write, with over 30 years as a freelance writer. As a news-Sun correspondent, he put together special publications on topics like WWII, the Red Hatters, the Civilian Conservation Corps, and local tourist destinations. His columns often reflected a humorous twist but he also displayed a serious side, with articles on Alzheimer’s and on coping with the loss of a wife. Larry, was president of the former local chapter of the Civilian Conservation Corps and headed up a national reunion of CCC alumni held in Sebring in 1993. He also produced several oral history videos on the CCC experience. He served as a board member of the local unit of the American Cancer Society, receiving the unit’s “Courage Award” in his battle against cancer. He also headed up the local chapter of the Prostate Cancer Support Group. As president of the Historical Society of Avon Park, he produced a DVD of the reenactment of the first nine years of Avon Park. He also led an oral history project called “Decades of Change”, on the memories of White and Black residents about local life during the 40, 50s and 60s, in partnership with South Florida State College, the Florida Humanities Council and the Museum of Florida Art and Culture. Over the years, Larry received several awards, including the Avon Park Chamber of Commerce’s Community Service Award, which he co-won with Elaine. He was twice awarded plaques for his “News Media Support of the U.S. Air Force and the Air Force Association.” He also received a Journalism Award from the Florida State Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Larry was always upbeat, held a soft-spot in his heart for cats and a fondness for food (his favorite meal was breakfast). He loved tennis, calling himself, “the best mediocre tennis player” he ever knew. Survivors include a step-mother, Shirley Levey of Schenectady, NY; one step-daughter, Cesily (Brett) Anders of Wilson, NC; one step-grandson, Michael Anders; two step-granddaughters, Elizabeth (Mani) Sim-Campos of St. Joseph, MN; and Hannah Sim of California; and two step-great-grand-children, Isabel and Aidan Sim-Campos of St. Joseph, MN. Other survivors include a first cousin, Arthur English of New York City; second cousins Peter (Shari) Benjamin of Charlotte, N.C.; Nancy (Jed) Bandes of Safety Harbor, FL; Julie (Woody) Woodka of Tarpon Springs, FL; Jill Strumpf of Clearwater, FL; Lori Strumpf of Washington, D.C. “A Celebration of Life” service will be held on Thursday, January 22, 2015, 4:00pm at Stephenson-Nelson Funeral Home of Sebring. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Compassionate Care Hospice, 4139 Sun N Lake Blvd., Sebring, FL 33872 (www.cchnet.net) or Temple Israel of Highlands County, 1305 Temple Israel Dr., Sebring, FL 33870 (www.templeisraelofhcfl.org) Arrangements entrusted to: Stephenson–Nelson Funeral Home (863) 385-0125 Online condolences may be left at: www.stephensonnelsonfh.com Celebration of Life Thursday January 22, 2015, 4:00pm at Stephenson-Nelson Funeral