Joseph “Joe” Levy, 90, died Thursday, January 17, 2019.Born in Nieder Emmel (Trier), Germany to Frieda and Karl Levy, Joe spent a happy childhood with family on their farm with younger sister Claire and extended family. Sensing large changes in their world, in the late 1930s, his parents moved the family to Berlin. Soon after Kristallnacht in which the Nazis invaded the family apartment, the family joined relatives in America and settled in Washington Heights, a German-Jewish enclave in NYC. Joe quickly learned English and adapted to life in America. After graduating high school, he became a butcher and proudly served his country in the US Army. His kitchen skills so impressed his superior officers that he was pulled out of line instead of being deployed to Korea. In 1953, he married the love of his life Paula, and the family grew with the birth of daughter Elaine and son Haran. In 1963, upon the recommendation of his brother-in-law John Simon, Joe accepted a new position with HIS men’s clothing and moved the family to Birmingham. Joe’s friendly personality endeared him to his many customers and colleagues throughout Alabama, and he was honored as HIS National Salesman of the Year twice in the late 1970s. He was an active member of Temple Beth El since 1963, having served on the board and as a nearly 35 year weekly “minyannaire.” After retirement, he and Paula participated for many years in UAB’s New Horizons program where he helped plan many of the group’s travels. Survivors include: wife Paula, daughter Elaine Mitleider and husband Alan, son Haran and wife Cheryl, grandchildren Corey Mitleider, David Mitleider, Emily Spinner and husband Joseph, Andi Riesenfeld and husband Brett, and great-granddaughter Hannah Spinner. Special thanks to Linda Mendel, Alan Berman, Chandy Bishop, staff at the Danberry and Comfort Care, and Drs. Joseph Spinner, David Gettinger, Mohammed Sarraf, Marianthe Grammas, and the medical staff at UAB who treated him with compassion and dignity during this past challenging time. Services will be held Sunday, January 20, 11 am at Temple Beth El 2179 Highland Avenue, following a private family burial.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Temple Beth El (templebeth-el.net) or Collat Jewish Family Services CARES program (cjfsbham.org).
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18