Matthew Ezra Levine was born on March 14, 1951 in New York City, the first child of Irving and Gerry Levine (born Ella Gerowitz). He spent the first couple of years in New York City then a home in New Jersey, until the family settled in a beautiful mid-century modern house in Ardsley, New York, designed and built by his father.
He graduated from Ardsley High School in 1969. During high school he spent a summer at the Westchester Music and Arts Camp in its drama program. Matt graduated from Finger Lakes Community College in Canandaigua, New York. He lived for a time after that with our aunt and uncle in New Jersey, and eventually settled in Rutland, Vermont, where he lived for the rest of his life. Matt married in 1975; the marriage ended in divorce several years later. Matt worked for several years at True Temper, before landing a better job at the General Electric Aviation Factory, where he worked for decades. He enjoyed traveling in the U.S. and one very special trip to Israel. Matt spent many happy hours painting vivid scenes of flowers, landscapes and objects, and thrived on the company of his beloved cats Precious and Blackie. Matt enjoyed playing computer games, watching tv and movies – especially science fiction, Star Trek, Judge Judy and Jeopardy. He also loved reading.
In Vermont Matt found a community of like-minded people for whom religion and the bible was very important. Although he was born into the Jewish faith, and was bar mitzvahed; in Vermont he became a Christian. For many years he has been a member of The Brick Church near Rutland. Religion became his greatest passion. He studied the bible, becoming expert in both the Old and New Testament and teaching Bible classes.
In his later years Matt’s health deteriorated, and in 2014 he moved to the Loretto Home in Rutland, an assisted living facility providing him with the care and attention he needed and enjoyed, supplemented by local expert, devoted help.
Matt passed away on Saturday night, April 22nd after a significant stroke the previous day. He was 72 years old. Matt was comforted by his strong beliefs, knowing that when his time on earth ended, he was going to a place where he would be welcomed and at peace. Matt was predeceased by his father and mother. He is survived by his sister Elena Levine and Elena’s husband Rick Curnen of Dunedin, FL, his brother Michael Levine and Michael’s husband Tom Sedgwick of Poughkeepsie, NY, and many cousins and other relatives.
There will be a graveside funeral on Wednesday, April 26th. Memorial contributions can be made to the Rutland County Humane Society (765 Stevens Road, Pittsford, VT 05763).
