Hilbert Levitz

Hilbert “Hilly” Levitz was born on November 13, 1931, in Lebanon, Pennsylvania and died in Jacksonville, Florida on December 7, 2025, at the age of 94. Raised in a religious Jewish family, Hilly was the youngest of five siblings. He had two brothers, Azar, who passed away at a young age, and Albert, and two sisters, Rachael (Stadiem) and Sarah (Schneider.) Their parents, Sam and Lena Levitz, were immigrants from Lithuania, bringing with them the traditions and heritage of Eastern Europe. Sam Levitz along with his brother, RB, was the founder of Levitz Furniture.

After graduating from high school, Hilly pursued higher education at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Upon completing his college studies, he was drafted into the Army. He was stationed just outside New York City, where he taught electronics to fellow soldiers, sharing his technical expertise and contributing to the military community.

Following his military service, Hilly assisted his family in opening a meat business in Buffalo, New York, dedicating several years to this endeavor. His passion for learning led him to enroll at Penn State University, where he studied mathematics. Hilly’s academic journey took him to Germany, where he wrote his doctoral dissertation under the guidance of Kurt Schutte in the field of mathematical logic. He earned his PhD in 1965.

Hilly began his teaching career at New York University, serving as a mathematics instructor from 1965 to 1969. He then relocated to Tallahassee, Florida, where he was a Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science at Florida State University from 1969 until 2003. One of his students remembered Hilly’s ability to explain something as abstruse as theory of automata with amazing clarity. Throughout his career, Hilly demonstrated a visionary approach to technology and education, anticipating the transformative impact of the internet.

As a forward-thinker and advocate for digital access, Hilly was a founder of the Tallahassee Freenet. This organization provided free internet access and served as a community computer network and early internet provider in Tallahassee, Florida, operating from 1993 to 2007. The Tallahassee Freenet offered free local and global information services, supporting government, educational, and community resources.

Hilly enjoyed traveling, with New York and Germany among his favorite destinations. He had a particular fondness for art museums, especially the Metropolitan Museum in New York. In addition to his appreciation for art, Hilly liked swimming and taking long walks, both in cities and in nature, reflecting his love for exploration and activity.

Hilbert "Hilly" Levitz is survived by his son, David Levitz; his former wife and best friend, Kate Levitz; nephew Terry Schneider and spouse, Laura Newton, and a large extended family of nieces and nephews, and his devoted caregivers, Cynthia and Gary Griffin. He will be remembered for his commitment to education, community, and the advancement of technology.

A Graveside Service for Hilly will take place, March 13, 2026, 11:00 a.m. at Oaklawn Cemetery, 4801 San Jose Blvd. Jacksonville, Florida 32207.