Obituary: Ed Levine

Ed Levine of Decatur, Ga. (formally of Lilburn) died Dec. 28. Born in Greenfield, N.J., to Ruth and Julius Levine, he spent his youth working at his family’s gas station and later at their farm in upstate New York. He and his brother, Burt, followed their sister, Shelia, south to Atlanta, where he met his loving wife of 58 years, Nina.

Ed received his bachelor’s in education from the University of Alabama and a Masters and Specialist degrees in Social Work from the University of Georgia. He loved helping kids live up to their potential as a teacher, coach, and through his volunteer activities. His first job in Atlanta was at Ed S. Cook Elementary School and later did social work with DeKalb County Schools. He was a strong believer in positive reinforcement— “just brag on kids when they do well.”

When he wasn’t teaching or coaching, he kept busy with many interests, but his family always remained at the forefront of his attention and affection. He loved his children, always coaching and entertaining them, teaching them lessons like the Golden Rule. He loved garage sales and flea markets (his favorite was Lakewood) towing his kids around as they looked for antiques, coins, stamps, and his favorite antique postcards. A lover of history, postcards gave him a unique view of world events, both in the scenes depicted and correspondence written upon them.

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He loved playing bridge and played regularly for over 60 years, and he would say “he was above average” but everyone knew he was much better than that. He was always rating everything, especially food. “That bagel was a b plus.” He loved talking to people and knew no stranger. An animal lover, there were always animals in the house and even an occasional raccoon, which he fed on the deck for decades. On family trips it was normal to stop the station wagon to help a boxer turtle cross the road. That really sums up his life, a man always doing what he could to help those in need.

Ed was predeceased by brother, Burt Levine, and son-in-law, John Battaglia, and is survived by his wife, Nina, son, Jeoff, and wife, Min, son, Greg, and partner, David Gunderson, daughters, Kim Battaglia and Pam Haggerty, 11 grandchildren, sister, Shelia Gregor, and sister-law, Patsy Levine. In lieu of flowers, send donations to PAWs Atlanta, World Wildlife Fund, or Trees Atlanta. Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.