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Jewish Historical Society of Memphis and the Mid-South mourns the
loss of Sumner I. Levine, who died suddenly on June 27, 2014, in
Athens, Greece, where he was vacationing with his wife of 59 years,
Phyllis Ratner Levine. He was a board member and past president of
the local Society, as well as a past president of the Southern Jewish
Historical Society.
Born
in Boston, Massachusetts, Sumner quickly became rooted in the South
after moving to Memphis. As his grandson Jeff expressed in his
tribute at Sumner’s funeral, he “loved Memphis, the Memphis
Jewish community, and the soul and culture that the greater Memphis
community represents.” He was a dedicated volunteer in both the
Jewish and secular communities, always putting the needs of others
before his own.
Sumner
touched many lives and had a wide circle of friends. He displayed
just as much enthusiasm when attending operas and symphony concerts
as he did when attending University of Memphis basketball games. His
greatest joy, however, was his family—two daughters, Jan Levine
Reisman and Beth Levine Orlansky; five grandsons; and one
great-grandson.
Sumner
devoted countless
hours to the Jewish Historical Society. To him, the past wasn’t
just old names or places—Meridian, Tupelo, or Yazoo, Mississippi,
where Phyllis was from. They were people, with their own lives and
their own stories. He wanted to preserve for them what he saw in
everyone—their humanity.
As
Peggy Jalenak, a past president of the Society aptly put it: “Sumner
was a very special person and friend, who contributed so much to
the Historical Society and the community. He was the ‘wind
beneath the wings’ of the JHSMM. We shall all mourn and miss
him.”
JHSMM has set up a
special
fund in
honor of Sumner Levine. Click here for
information about this fund.
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Thoughts
from others about Sumner Levine*:
From
the time
that I first attended a Southern Jewish Historical Society conference
more than 25 years ago, Sumner made me feel welcome. More than that, he
made me feel at home. Throughout the years, he continued to encourage
me, as he did others -- persistently, yet in his wonderfully gentle
way, to become more involved in the society. As a past president,
his belief in the importance of the society never wavered. A southern
gentleman, who loved his family, and to me, seemed to know most of the
Jews of Memphis(!), he was kind, bright, and witty. I will miss him.
- Dr. Ellen Umansky. Prof,
Fairfield Univ, Fairfield, Conn & SJHS Membership Chair & Pres
Elect; 6/2014. |
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