Margaret Levchenko

Margaret Levchenko, 97, a devoted wife, mother, and public servant, died peacefully on August 14, 2023 at Asbury Methodist Village in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Born in East Rockaway, New York on April 30, 1926 to William Martin Moore and Roberta Sly Moore, Margaret was the youngest of five children (Elizabeth (Libby), John, Eleanor (Ellie), and William (Bill)). Tragically, her mother died of cancer when Margaret was seven, and not long after, the family home burned down and her father lost his job during the Great Depression. Thanks in large part to her older siblings and her Uncle, John Moore, Margaret made it through that very hard time.

After her sophomore year in high school, Margaret moved, along with her father, to Sussex, New Jersey to stay with Uncle John while completing her junior and senior years at Sussex High School. Then, it was off to Montclair State, where she excelled academically, played basketball, led the Sports Association, and was a student government leader.

After teaching for a year in Washington state, Margaret spent several years in New York City, which she loved. She and Dorothy Curran, who became a life-long friend, traveled together to Italy and to Cuba, experiences Margaret treasured.

Margaret still holds the record for master’s degrees earned by a Moore family member, earning three, including in teaching (Hunter College), Russian studies (Columbia University), and library science (University of Maryland). At Columbia, she met Andrew Levchenko, Jr.; they married later that year on September 22, 1956, and shortly after moved to Washington D.C., as Andy had been recruited to work for the Central Intelligence Agency. They lived in England (1963-1967) and Okinawa (1969-1971) when Andy was stationed abroad.

In the early 1970s, Margaret decided to get back into the workforce. After earning her master’s in library science, she began a 20-year career as a librarian with Montgomery County, Maryland, which she much enjoyed. Margaret believed in giving back. After retiring in 1994, Margaret mentored children for 19 years at Eastern Middle School in Silver Spring with the non-profit organization Interages; in 2013, the Jewish Council on Aging honored her as co-volunteer of the year. She was an active member of Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church in Bethesda for six decades, where she was active in The Alliance (which provides social, cultural and community service activities at the church), used her skills to organize the church’s library, and assisted for many years with the jewelry sale.

Margaret and Andy were happily married for more than 65 years; Andy died in March 2022 at the age of 91. She is survived by their son Phil Andrews, his wife Staci Daddona and their son Justin; by their son Stuart and his wife Belen Levchenko, and by Stuart’s former wife Aurora Levchenko and their sons Paul and Derek; and by their son Keith, his wife Nicolette Stearns and their children Kara, Juliette and Nicholas. Margaret and Andy loved entertaining family members and friends and travelling the world.

Margaret was an avid golfer and bridge player. She and Andy enjoyed playing tennis, and their three sons became adept tennis players and play to this day.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Margaret’s life on September 23, 2023 at 3:00p.m. at Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church in Bethesda, MD.

Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Heyman Interages® Center (accessjca.org/donate/), the Southern Poverty Law Center (www.splcenter.org), and Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church (www.cedarlane.org/give)