Richard “Rick” Levin

May 23rd, 2014

In the professional world where we met Rick, many of our colleagues can only talk business. But there was always so much more when Rick was there. His warmth made Nancy and I seek him out in a roomful of others. There was singing to talk about – one of his guest book posters mentioned Vaughn Williams, a favorite – and of course there were dogs, another mutual love. Greatly respected for his technical expertise, it is clear that his personal gifts were what really matters to so many like us when we recall Rick, and we will do so for a long time. Our deepest sympathies to family and friends whose grief is surely very deep. But how wonderful someone like Rick could be among us while he was.

~Phil Kabza
~Friend and colleague, Mount Dora FL

May 23rd, 2014

My wife Pam Shannon and I have been neighbors of Rick and Judy for 20 years. We’re distressed that we missed last weekend’s memorial due to an avalanche of out-of-town guests. We trust that Judy knows we’re here for her whenever she needs us!
My fondest memory of Rick was our mutual love of choral music, specifically his participation in the UW Choral Union’s “Elijah” a few years ago. I praised Rick for the performance and his entire face lit up! The sounds of hope and redemption never sounded sweeter than during those performances. Keep singing Rick — and hoping!

~Doug Bradley
~Neighbor, Madison, WI

May 17th, 2014

I met Rick many times when he was volunteering at WPR. It was ALWAYS a pleasure when he was there. The news of his untimely passing hit us all, because we lost a true friend. Thanks for all the joy, Rick! We miss you!

~Mike Crane
~friend, Madison, WI

May 9th, 2014

Like so many others, I have great memories of Rick. I met him when he volunteered for a Wisconsin Public Radio pledge drive many years ago, and he was always a welcome sight. Rick had a wonderful sense of humor and had such a sensitivity and caring for all of us. He had great respect for people. He was not on this earth long enough. He will be missed.

~Mary Kay Dadisman
~Friend, Madison, WI

May 2nd, 2014

I knew Rick through our shared profession of architecture, one to which he dedicated himself, always seeking to achieve excellence. But it was his gentle and generous spirit, both professionally and personally that drew me to regard him as a friend, as well. We saw each other at random intersections of time and space, always shared a smile and I inevitably was uplifted by our exchange. Discovering his passion for music only now, I find there was yet another commonality between us. Peace, my friend.

~Rex Loker
~colleague, Madison, WI

March 12th, 2014

Rick and I were fellow basses in the University of Wisconsin-Madison Choral Union for many years. I valued his friendship and his enthusiasm for the music as a faithful and courageous singer to the very last. I know that he had made it a personal goal to stand and sing the Mendelssohn and the Vaughan-Williams for the concerts last semester–and he achieved it in spite of his illness. He will be missed.

I give thanks for his life and I wish for all of you his family God’s peace and strength as you cope with his loss.

Cordially,

David Susan

~David Susan
~friend, Madison, WI

March 11th, 2014

Dear Judy & the Levin family,

Our heartfelt condolences to you all in the passing of Rick. I grew up knowing him as “Ricky” and that is the name I always associate with him. He was a wonderful, kind, soft-spoken person with a great laugh. Our families shared many laughs together for many wonderful years. Ricky, may you rest in peace.

Susie Friedman-Hill & Greg Hill

~Susan Friedman-Hill
~family friend, Madison, WI

March 10th, 2014

I too sang for years in the UW Choral Union with Rick. He was a sweet, gentle person who took such enormous pleasure from the music, even when he was very ill. I’m so sorry. We will miss him greatly.
המקום ינחם.

~Jeanne Swack
~Friend, Madison, WI

March 10th, 2014

This is such a loss…I attended school in Chicago with Rick and was so pleased to see him again at our 40th reunion in 2010 — the first time since we graduated — and now I’m doubly grateful to have had the opportunity to connect again as adults. My heart goes out to his family.

~Connie Williams
~classmate, El Cerrito, CA

March 6th, 2014

I work at Wisconsin Public Radio and Rick volunteered with us. I can close my eyes and visualize his smile and his laughter. Rick gave off an aura of humanity, fun, and passion for the things he loved. If we here at WPR loved him so much, I can only imagine the keen sense of loss to his close friends and family. I am so sorry for that. Rest in peace, Rick.

~Susannah Michaels
~Friend, Madison, WI

March 6th, 2014

I have many, many fond memories of Saturday morning with Rick volunteering for the WPR show Whad’Ya Know?. I worked on the show and I knew when I got to Monona Terrace on Saturday morning, and saw Rick as a volunteer, all the duties would be taken care of. His dedication and thoughtfulness always came through and I’m glad for the many laughs we had on those Saturday mornings. I wish him peace and to his family I wish comfort at this loss.

~Judith Kovalic
~, Madison, WI

March 6th, 2014

Rick and I sang together in the University of Wisconsin Choral Union for many years. His boundless enthusiasm for the music and his dedication to the concerts year after year was wonderful and inspiring. Because of people like Rick, beautiful classical music was available to the community. He will be greatly missed.

I am thinking of and praying for your family during this difficult time of loss of someone so young. May God bring comfort and may Rick’s memory be for a blessing.

~Kathi Johnson Rock
~Friend, Madison, Wisconsin