Mayer Levy, Jr.

Mayer Levy passed away peacefully on the morning of Dec. 15, 2024. He had entered the hospital on his birthday, Dec. 7, a few days earlier, and returned to Crabapple Village in St. Clair, MO to be with close family members and staff for the next several days.

Mayer’s life began in New Orleans, LA son of Mayer Levy, Sr. And Stella Winsberg Levy. Five years later he was joined by his sister, Jacqueline.

As Jackie tells, New Orleans schools only went grades 1-7 in primary school, then to high school. During high school, Mayer met Patsy Pincus at a football game. That sparked a relationship that would lead to a 69-year marriage until Pat passed in May 2020.

Mayer graduated Alcee Fortier High School at the age of 16 and entered that fall into Louisiana State University. Since LSU was a land grant college, ROTC was compulsory. Barracks were in the football stadium. He graduated as a Second Lieutenant.

It was at this time Ken and Dan were born in Baton Rouge, LA.

Graduating college and ROTC in 1953, Mayer entered the U.S. Air Force. He had the aptitude and skills to be accepted into flight training school to become a pilot. He related that his biggest disappointment was he just could not succeed at the aerobatics required.

Wanting to remain in the flight crew, he was selected for Navigator training and sent to Harlingen, Texas. Successfully completing this training, he was assigned to a base in Mississippi, then Mobile, Alabama.

In Mobile, Michael was born completing the family. Mayer was now a First Lieutenant and instructed new trainees. For his next assignment, Mayer would take the entire family halfway around the world to Guam, Weather Recon. He was a Hurricane Hunter, exploring typhoons in the South Pacific region.

At the end of his required time of duty, and experiencing the hazards of his assignment, Mayer retired from the Air Force to Memphis, TX. Here he joined Pat’s parents, Amelia and Bernard Pincus to raise his family. The constant moving and relocating required by the Air Force now gave way to an eight-year span of the American dream.

However, the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 changed the Mayer Levy family course of the future. The Air Force needed his service. Fortunately, the crisis was averted, and Mayer was back on the streets looking for employment, having quit his job in retail sales.

Mayer began work with Deby Brandon and Associates in Memphis selling Life and Health Insurance for Pan American Life Insurance Company. In 1966, the event that reshaped his remaining life occurred. He took the opportunity to move his family north to St. Louis, MO.

In St. Louis, through a mutual friend, from Memphis, Mayer and Pat met the Perry Sparks Family. Perry and wife Shirley became the closest of families, each having three sons and celebrating many family achievements together and over 50 years of Thanksgivings jointly with extended family and friends. Together with the Sparks and other friends, they traveled the world together.

One small, interesting fact, his Memphis friend worked for the May Company. In April of 1966 he was able to obtain tickets for the very first game, opening Busch Stadium. Mayer was able to witness a helicopter deliver Home Plate from the old Sportsman Park to the new stadium!

Mayer’s last employment change in life came in 1970. He left his office in Clayton, MO, joined the St. Charles Agency and started selling Life Insurance products for Kansas City Life Insurance Company. Here he stayed in this position until 2002, when he retired at the age of 70.

Mayer received numerous recognitions and awards for his sales and service to his client’s selling insurance, group business policies and retirement plans.

During this period, Mayer joined the St. Charles Rotary Club. He served as President and achieved the Paul Harris Fellow Award.

It was also during the 1980’s that Michael died of the AIDS Virus. It was during this time that Pat and Mayer became active in the AIDS education and awareness programs throughout the St. Louis area. For their dedication they were awarded the Sandra T. Spirtas Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002.

Mayer and Pat were travelers.

Setting foot on six continents on earth, Pat would chronicle each trip in prose and photos. A trip to the Holy Land was a highlight, even for these experienced world explorers. After several canceled tours due to the threat of hostilities, Rabbi Bennett lead a group that Mayer continued to relive again and again. Late in life when travel was more difficult, Mayer would stream services from his room with son Ken’s help.

When the boys were still in high school, Mayer started a hobby that would consume his spare time and began his passion until late into retirement. Starting with the little Sunfish at Carlyle Lake in Illinois, then to his 22’ South Coast in the Mississippi River, sailing on the water is were Mayer would be if the weather was right, and the wind was in the right direction.

Many an afternoon he would head out to the “yacht club" at Portage De Sioux, just a half hour or so from the office. Moving on to a bigger sailboat, his first Catalina 32, required a new port. Having finally retired from sales, the base of operation moved to Fair Hope, Alabama. And again, a larger Caliber 38, and another port in Bradenton, Florida.

Many friends and family would join them for adventures along the coast and open waters. Mayer was a trusted, cautious Captain, along with Pat his First Mate. Each year for seven years, they would load up the car at New Years and head south for the winters. Stock the boat, ready the sails and Key West, here they go. There was always a welcome mat for any who wanted to visit, to enjoy sunsets and 5:00 o’clock puu puu’s.

After selling his beloved “Le Bon Temps” Mayer and Pat became snowbirds. Condos replaced sailboats. First on the Gulf Coast, then 5-6 winters in Sebastian, FL. Wherever their port, they made community and friends.

The final years of Mayer’s life consisted of selling their home of 50+ years, caring for Pat, moving into Brookdale Senior Community, again where they made more friends. Pat’s time there was short, and after a fall, Mayer moved to Franklin County to be near Ken and family.

With the compassionate care of the staffs at St. Clair Nursing Home, and Crabapple Village Residence Home, Mayer was able to extend his life into his 90’s and could enjoy the successes of his seven grandchildren. He could experience the exploits of his eight great-grandchildren; and he was aware of one more on the way, and two very special adopted grandkids that live “down the hill”.

He even gave his final fist bumps just hours before passing.

From all of us who knew his we say…sail on

Obituary & Life Story for Mayer Levy, Jr.

Born: Dec. 7, 1932, New Orleans, LA

Died: Dec. 15, 2024, St. Clair, MO

Parents: Mayer Levy, Sr. and Stella M. Levy (nee) Winsberg

Married: Patricia A. Levy (nee) Pincus

Preceded in death:

Michael Jay Levy, son

Patricia A. Levy, wife

Surviving:

Kenneth Levy, son and wife Becky

Daniel Levy, son and wife Jo Ellen

Grandchildren:

Amelia E. Levy

Stephanie M. Levy and husband Ray Diaz

Karla Chiarelli and husband Chris

Jacob Doerr Levy

Danielle C. Levy, M.D. and husband Kevin Murphy

Lauren Dickson and husband Brandon

Brandon Levy and wife Kristine

Great-Grandchildren:

Nara, Kenzie, and Archer Dickson

Calvin and Sadie Chiarelli

Saylor and Walker Levy

Michelle Levy Diaz

Jacqueline Levy Berk, sister

Julie Berk Huettig, niece

Robert Berk, nephew and wife Lisa