Janet Martha Levy

Janet Martha Levy died peacefully Sunday May 19, 2024 at the Granite VNA Hospice House in Concord surrounded by her loving family. She is survived by her husband of 43 years, Hugh Walter Emerson Jr., their daughters Sarah (Emerson) Beauregard her husband Mark and their children Madison, Emerson, Addison, and Wilson all of Concord NH; Olivia (Emerson) Fedele her husband Jared and their children Nicholas and Elisabeth all of Beverly Hills, MI, late of Shanghai; stepsons Michael Emerson of Wells, ME, and Todd Emerson and his wife Elizabeth of Elliot, ME. Additionally, she is survived by her sister Laurel Elisabeth Levy of Guam, as well as cousins and nieces and nephews.

Janet was born August 25, 1951, in New York City, NY to Lionel Koppel Levy of Augusta GA and Elisabeth Martha (Embelton) Levy of Lakewood NJ. She spent her early years in West Palm Beach FL and Stamford CT. Janet earned her engineering degree at Syracuse University and went on to obtain her Masters in 1975 in the nascent science of environmental engineering at the University of North Carolina at Chaple Hill at a time when it was rare for a woman to pursue that career. She broke more than one glass ceiling in her time, and ultimately went on to start her own firm, Levy Engineering, Inc. She specialized in municipal water resources and management throughout NH for nearly four decades, paving the way for those women who followed her.

Janet moved to Concord in 1975 and over the years became very involved in all aspects of Concord civic life. She served on the Concord Zoning Board and Planning Board, was a member and volunteer of the Friends of White Park, League of Women Voters of NH, the Women’s Club of Concord and the YMCA to name a few. For years Janet was the driving force behind the Concord YMCA Sailfish Swim Team. She brought her engineering eye for detail and considerable people skills to all these endeavors. Her voice and her industry will be sorely missed. In her spare time, she was a prodigious knitter, expert crocheter, and seamstress. She taught a knitting class at the women’s prison and, during the pandemic, sewed untold numbers of face masks for donations organized through the Women’s Club. She also loved gardening and daily exercise including her favorite aerobics class at the Y for 40 years.

Janet lived life to the fullest each and every day. She loved being immersed in her community, and to spend time with friends, she was ever curious and involved always. But her greatest love and fulfillment came from being engaged with her daughter’s families whether the day to day of sports, lessons, and baking here with Sarah in Concord, to the necessity of providing love and support from afar to Olivia’s family on the other side of the world in Shanghai. She was a fierce force for good, always moving, and encouraging those around her to do more, to do better, and to be better. Janet could do more in 24 hours than most people could accomplish in a week. To be around her gave you energy, and to be with her made you think you could do anything. Her acerbic wit, and easy laugh will be deeply missed.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday May 23rd, 2024 at the Women’s Club of Concord, 44 Pleasant Street, Concord NH between the hours of 4-8 with light refreshments and hors d’oeuvres . Remembrances of and tributes to Janet’s life will be most welcome commencing at 4:30 PM. In lieu of flowers please send a donation for the benefit the Women’s Club of Concord.