Danny Leavitt

Dan is survived by his son Jeff of Haverhill, son Steven and devoted daughter-in-law Beth, adoring granddaughters Rebekah and Jordan Leavitt of North Reading; sister Beth Bernstein of Boston and brother Edward of San Francisco. Also by his treasured nieces and nephew, Leah Bernstein of San Francisco, David Bernstein and Tanya Fokina of Brookline. Danny will also be missed by his longtime partner Sally Francis of Peabody.

As a teenager, Dan became interested in photography and built a darkroom in the basement of his parents’ home. He was an avid follower of the Brookline Fire Department and photographed fires that he then sold to local newspapers. He became a member of the Brookline Fire Auxiliary and has a Brookline Fireman’s hat to prove it!

He was a camper and then a counselor at the West End House in Maine. Danny continued visiting the camp annually for the Old Timers week every August after camp ended, where he reconnected with many of his old friends. He always supported the West End House Camp.

Dan loved his Jewish roots and his faith was very important to him. He gave back to the Jewish community as a proud president of Congregation Sons of Israel, a member of the Tifereth Israel Congregation in Peabody and was the lay representative to the Peabody Clergy Ministerial Association.

Dan was a family man, the patriarch, and never missed the opportunity to get together to celebrate holidays and birthdays. He always attended Jeff and Steven’s soccer and Little League games. He was in the camera business and he was a photographer; he took pictures of weddings, bar mitzvahs, Peabody Little League and soccer teams. He was the keeper of the Evans and Leavitt family memories, which was fondly called the Osache tribe. He reached out and maintained relationships with cousins throughout the country.

Danny served in the US Army as a photographer and was a member of the Jewish War Veterans North Shore Post 220. He was also a member of the Old Fart Press Photographers of the North Shore. This group met monthly to discuss the important, and some not so important, issues of the day. He enjoyed this group as it kept his connection with business friends after his retirement.

Danny enjoyed traveling. A special highlight was the year 2009 that included trips to Moscow and San Francisco to attend the weddings of his niece and nephew.

Danny was fortunate to be the recipient of a kidney, whom he affectionately named Sidney. This gift from an unknown donor gave him an extra seven years of family, travel, and joy.

A funeral service for Danny will be held at Congregation Sons of Israel, Park St, Peabody MA 01960 on Monday December 30, 2019 at 10:00 AM. Interment will follow at Sharon Memorial Park, 40 Dedham Street, Sharon, MA 02067.

Please contact the family for Shiva information.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Congregation Sons of Israel, Park Street, Peabody, MA 01960 or to Sawtelle Family Hospice House, Gift Processing Center, 41 Mall Road, Burlington, MA 01805.