By Mike Finney

DOVER — The outpouring of memories about Dover stalwart Irving Levitt — who died Monday at age 95 in Newark — told the story of just how much impact he had, whether it be on a state representative, the mayor or a businessman who shared the same interests.

With the remembrances, one thing became quickly apparent: It is difficult to talk about Mr. Levitt without mention of his wife of more than 50 years, Phyllis. Ms. Levitt died in 2011.

State Rep. Sean Lynn said the Levitts had a tremendous impact on him, both while growing up and as a member of the legislature.

“Above all else, (Mr. Levitt) was one of those rare people that you knew just cared about his fellow man. He and Phyllis both,” Rep. Lynn said. “He was a humanist in the best sense of the term. He was a proud father, and his daughter, Laura, took immaculate and loving care of him until the day he died. I know he was proud of her and all her literary accomplishments.”

Dover Mayor Robin Christiansen echoed those comments.

“Irv Levitt was a great guy,” he said. “Knowledgeable and a great intellect. He’ll be sorely missed by me, by his family and by the citizens of Dover who knew him well.”

Mr. Levitt married Phyllis on Groundhog Day 1958 and moved to Delaware from New York in 1966. They made their mark as consummate activists, educators, community leaders and patrons of the arts.

Their contribution to the capital city can be measured in the countless lives they enriched over the years.

Gary Knox, owner of Forney’s Too! in downtown Dover, has four or five paintings by Mr. Levitt hanging in his store.

“He was a good guy,” Mr. Knox said. “His wife, Phyllis, was my senior English teacher at Dover High School in 1977-78. I dated his daughter, Laura, in high school, and we became very good friends, and he was a pretty important part of my life.

“He and I shared a love of movies and books, and we would talk about that at length. He was like a mentor of sorts to me.”

Mr. Knox said that Mr. Levitt often put himself into his paintings.

That’s what inspired him to write a tribute poem to Mr. Levitt and post it on his Facebook page Tuesday:

“Irv lives on in thrift store frames on our walls. / His soulful eyes peering at us through pencil, pastel, oil, / A philosopher on cardboard and canvas, / Holding up a mirror reflecting all our grotesque beauty. / Each daub, jot, splatter, scribble, and line / a self portrait of our suffering, joy, ennui, and love, / Humanity in every brushstroke.”

Mr. Levitt is survived by his son, David Levitt of Newark, and his daughter, Laura Levitt of Philadelphia.

A lifetime of service

Mr. Levitt was appointed a civilian member of Dover’s Utility Committee in February 1977 and served in that capacity until May 1987, when he was sworn into office as city councilman for the 3rd District.

During his six years on City Council, Mr. Levitt was a member of nearly every committee, serving as chairman of the Police and Civilian Pension Committee, the Utility Committee and the Legislative and Finance Committee.

“Irv had been prevented from running for City Council for many years until he retired. He was the Social Security director of the office here in Dover,” Mayor Christiansen said. “He was finally able to run, and he really brought a great deal of knowledge to City Council.

“Not only did I value the knowledge that he brought to council, but I valued the friendship that we had prior to him ever being elected to council, and I was honored to be a cohort of his, and also (of the late Dover High School Principal) Pat Lynn, when we served on council together.”

Mayor Christiansen joked that Mr. Levitt “was one of the great first environmentalists,” something the mayor got to experience firsthand when he got into trouble at Dover High School, and Mrs. Levitt bailed him out of his problem. Mayor Christiansen decided to cut the Levitts’ lawn to say thank you.

“Irv, in 1965, when I said he was the first environmentalist, had an electric lawnmower that had 200 feet of cord, and while I was cutting their lawn, I cut that cord at least 200 times, and it was me and electrical tape, trying to put it back together,” he said with a laugh.

“But Mr. Levitt and Mrs. Levitt were great contributors to the Dover community, and I’m so glad that they took the opportunity to move here from New York because they helped make Dover the great place that it was then, and it is now, and it will be in the future.”

Rep. Lynn said his father, Pat Lynn, and his entire family developed a relationship with the Levitts over years of working together on City Council and at Dover High.

“Mr. Levitt served with my father (on City Council), and the two of them became very close friends over the years, indeed, (with) our whole family,” Rep. Lynn said. “Mrs. Levitt and my dad also worked together for many years.

“Our families traveled together, and I remember more so the personal affection and kindness he showed me as a boy. Some of my favorite memories are Irv and Phyllis coming to all my high school and community plays, and Irv giving me books he thought I should read. I remember specifically a few Elie Wiesel books that had a profound impact on me, even to this day.”

Rep. Lynn said he recalls one Christmas with the Levitts that was particularly special.

“That Christmas, my parents helped me adopt a rescued greyhound, with the help of our next-door neighbors, ... and Irv was waiting for us when my dad and I got home from Philadelphia after adopting my dog. Irv helped me clean up a big mess in the kitchen from the dog before my mom got home to see it.”

Rep. Lynn said that, as an adult, Mr. Levitt helped him early in his political career and “was always a positive and inspirational voice. We ended up living around the corner from one another downtown.”

“(Irv) knew more about Social Security than anyone I’ve ever met, and I remember he discussed it passionately on many occasions … and in many letters to the editor in the local papers,” he said.

Always looking out for others

Even when Mr. Levitt was presented a city plaque, cup and key in recognition of council’s appreciation for his many years of service May 10, 1993, he quickly turned the focus to others.

“I urge the citizenry to utilize the 15-minute open forum (before council meetings) to express their thoughts and concerns to members of council,” Mr. Levitt said that night.

“With many senior citizens retiring in Dover, the average age of our population is increasing.
“This could make it more difficult to gain popular support to fund and expand parklands and create recreational and sports areas for our young people. It could become more difficult to upgrade historic areas and to allocate funds for cultural enrichment and greater support for the arts.”

He continued, “We must confront this new isolationism — this head-in-the-sand, know-nothing syndrome — with an unswerving commitment to the common good, not only for this generation, but more importantly, for the ones that follow. In City Council, this should be our measure and our guide.”

It was the overwhelming concern for the rights of others that marked the Levitts’ lives together, as they regularly participated in marches, protests and campaigns to improve conditions for the poor, for migrant workers and for all who suffer injustice.

“Loved his work,” N. Taylor Collins wrote on Facebook about Mr. Levitt’s art. “They were the quintessential couple. Their generation really knew how to get things done. Learned so much from them about civic responsibility and community involvement.”