In 1966 I was recruited out of an Oklahoma City suburb to play football for the Vanderbilt Commodores . Vanderbilt’s policy was to allow freshman athletes to reside randomly within the general student population. My dorm room that year  was next door  to one Kenneth Albert Levy of Scarsdale NY . On the other side was Andy Jackson ( really) from Vicksburg Miss. Andy was a nice guy , but Ken’s room was perhaps the most vibrant and exciting “ classroom “ I encountered during my four years at Vandy . I learned so much from Ken about NY …… his family  and his faith for sure . Thanks for being my friend Ken Levy and modeling an amazing zest for life and interest in other human beings . 
Steve A Coleman

A year goes by very quickly or in certain cases very slowly. As much as I miss my father, I am glad he did not have to go through Covid-19 and that we could say goodbye to him both in New York and in Zurich as we planned, wanted and needed to.

Dear Ken, I was fortunate to meet you when I was just 11, visiting my Aunt and Uncle (Sally & John Why) in Dusseldorf some 45 years ago. 

What I remember most was Ken's heart (such a giving and kind man), the mustache, the music, Mercedes (who taught Spanish) and of course a white VW Beetle.

These were brilliant times for me and I will keep the memories for all my life. You will be missed: now I think I'm going to have a search through all the photos for an old Polaroid of Ken and the Beetle.....

Take care my friend

Guy

PART 2

My Dad also loved paper: all sorts of paper, in its various forms: newspapers, flyers, receipts, maps, napkins - and he collected them. 

My Dad loved all his other collections as well: matches, combes, pens, rubber bands and every item, one could take for free from a hotel room or a Swiss airplane.

My Dad loved the New York Times crossword puzzle and the articles - but especially the jokes - in the New Yorker. 

My Dad loved languages: English and German. And Italian. 

My Dad loved to correct everyone’s grammar. 

My Dad loved politics. He loved people who had strong opinions and he loved convincing others of the right cause, even when they already were long on his side. 

My Dad loved chocolate: His sisters Chocolate cake, chocolate ice cream, chocolate chip cookies, hot chocolate, brown chocolate, chocolate with raisins and nuts. 

My Dad loved all his family - and friends. And he loved to keep in touch. With Bob, with Hans, with Sally, Kathleen, with Josh & Judd, with Howey and the rest of the high school gang, with Ian and Kevin and many many more. 

My dad loved so many people, so many things but most of all, he loved life. So much, that he fought until the bitter end. 

My Dad loved all my names I gave him: Dad, Daddy, Mr. Dad, Dads and sometime Mr. Shnaz. 

My Dad loved me very much and always will. 

And Iwill always love him. Forever.

PART 1

My Dad loved a lot of people and a lot of different things.

My Dad loved Susan. Very very very much. Seeing my Dad with Susan, always made me happy. She made him happy. And he made her happy, They loved to travel together and visit all their dear friends and family in beautiful places around the globe. 

My Dad loved us very much, his two girls. 

My Dad loved Jessica to the moon and back. This love was so big, that when Jessica was born, Dad did not let anyone touch her. This love was so big, that he and my dear mother Karin, would wake Jessica up in the middle of the night, to make sure, she was still breathing. This love was so big, that my Dad came home one day around Jessica’s 1st birthday and was so thrilled to see her, that he wanted another child. 9 month later, I was born. 

My Dad loved Susan’s children, Kara and Jared; and everyone connected to them: Greg and Michelle. And Ava, Ben and little Sasha. They all became very important to him - and us - and are a part of our family. 

My Dad loved his siblings Karen and Stuart very very much; and his cousin Susan. They loved being on a bed together, they loved to laugh and even fight together. 

My Dad loved to travel. First with his brother, then with us, and a lot with Susan. He loved all the Swiss passes; he loved the mountains. 

My Dad loved to ski and had a unique style. My dad loved to ride his bike. Alone or as a family, when we were little kids. 

My Dad loved great views and beautiful sunsets. In Zürich and in Heartsdale. And he loved when the sun would shine on his face. 

My Dad loved to go on road trips or just for a quick drive. And he loved to listen to music, while driving. 

My Dad loved Beethoven and Mozart, he loved the Band, the Beatles, the Who, Billy Joel and Neil Young, Jimi Hendrix, Elton John and at some weird point in his life even Brian Adams. 

My Dad loved to remember phone numbers, dates and every town on this planet, that he had ever visited. 

So this is what a broken heart feels like.

Only it is only broken in more places than I ever knew possible. I am dizzy, I am ill and I feel faint, I have been screaming for hours and I am at home pouring over photos and notes from my father. And yet nothing, absolutely nothing will bring him back.

Oh, how I would love just another minute to thank him again for bringing me into this world, for being the first and biggest idol I ever had and to tell him again how much I admired and loved him.

I am so glad and grateful that you waited for me, Dad, and I have never been in more pain.

Your adoring and heartbroken first-born
Jessica

From Larry: My relationship with Ken goes back to our college years at Vanderbilt University in the late 1960’s.  Maybe we found each other because we both felt out of place in this southern conservative community, but for whatever the reason, being roommates during that tumultuous time was one of the most transformative experiences of my life.  I remember late nights talking politics, protest marches, smoking grass, and listening to music.  I cannot hear a song by Leonard Cohen, Taj Mahal, or Richie Havens and not think about Ken.  He was there when Kathy and I eloped 50 years ago, and we have kept in touch since, (although not frequently enough).  I can only pray that he knew how important he was in my life, and I will never be able to thank Ken enough.   My prayers are with you Susan, Sonja, and Jessica. 

 From Kathy:  My favorite memories of Ken include playing hearts at the apartment in Nashville, listening to his Taj Mahal records, driving nonstop to a concert in North Carolina.  He was right there with us, when we drove to Georgia and got married.  (photo with Wes Bradby and Jack Hopkins, Ken and Larry's other roommates).
 
I loved visiting when he lived in Dusseldorf, then meeting his girls at the beach in New Jersey.  Ken and Susan visited us in Colorado a few years ago.  That was a special time – bittersweet, a time of remembering and letting each other know that our friendship was important.  Thank you, Ken.  Blessings to you:  Susan, Jessica and Sonja.

Love from Larry and Kathy Dansky,
Lafayette, Colorado


Dearest Ken,   We shall miss you.  Forty seven years ago you exploded into our lives, a loud ball of vitality and outrageous humour.  We loved you instantly and have never wavered.  Your always constant friendship made the miles between us nothing. You challenged and expanded us and later delighted our children equally.  This is being written as we listen to 'The Band' - loudly!

         All our love, dear friend .                           Catch you later,
                                                              Sally  &  John
                                                                          xx

Ken was the best possible friend – always there, always enthusiastic and always full of laughs. We skied and skied and skied together, hiked up Swiss mountains and shared news and views on politics and any number of sports, but especially tennis and Roger Federer. I am so pleased that he married Susan – and that I pushed him to do so. I’m so pleased that I got to see him a few weeks ago, still getting around and still interested in everything. Mary and I already miss his infectious humour and warmth, and we send our heartfelt condolences to Susan and all the family for their great loss.

Hello family, cousins and friends of Ken,

When I was sixteen years old, I had  the opportunity to get to know to my first cousins, Ken, Stuart and Jerald when I came from my home in Beverly Hills, California,  to spend the summer with them in Scarsdale.  Karen was married by then and Susan lived across the street.  It was a wonderful summer.  Joan took all of us to the New York World's Fair several times and into NYC often.  That summer Kenny and I drove around the village in Travis' Cadillac, which for us 16 year olds was exciting as we were just learning to drive.  This L.A. Dodger fan would watch the Yankees and Mets games in the den with Ken and Jerry while Stuart the scholar read books. 

In later years, my wife Gerrie and I would travel to both Germany and Switzerland to see Ken and the girls when he lived and worked in those countries. 

I vividly remember many years ago my father told me Kenny had been diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma and I cried that day because it was so unfair and Kenny was so young.  Ken beat that obstacle and went on to live a very rewarding life until today, when I cried again.

During the last five years when I was going through two bouts with cancer, Kenny always stayed in touch and inquired about how I was doing.

Also, over the years, Kenny always stayed in touch with a phone call or email;  he was the only family relative to do that which says so much about him.

I shall miss him so much!

Best wishes to my cousins,  I am so sorry for your loss.  

Richard and Gerrie Leeds 

Morris told me about Kenny this morning.  I am very sorry to learn of his passing and of your loss. Kenny always had a smile and a nice thing to say.  So many years ago, but fond and fun memories of Scarsdale and your family.  I know you will miss him. Best,
Janna 

OBITUARIO

Kenneth Albert Levy

19 mayo, 1948 – 11 noviembre, 2019

Riverside Memorial Chapel - Hawthorne

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