A deeply-felt loss of someone entwined with so many early memories. I loved seeing her at the 50th reunion, corresponded subsequently, and hoped to see her again after re-settling in Ohio. Now I applaud her astoundingly effective, giving life! Thanks so much, Tracey, for sending the obituary.
I have so many vivid memories of Michelle and her family. We were close friends at Roosevelt and for several years enjoyed activities with Melinda and another classmate as members of our own Friendly Society Club. I went home to Cleveland with an OSU classmate one year; Michelle and Dick came over to visit. That was in the mid-60s and the last time we spent quality time together. During the past year Michelle and I stayedin touch via this website .May her passing be mourned and her life celebrated.
I met Michelle in the first grade in the fall of 1949. We went through elementary school together. During those early years she always seemed more mature than the other kids. She had a knack for adopting to any personality and while she enjoyed humor, she was very capable of serious school work as well. She was an excellent student, a constant friend and was always a lady. She did many great things in her short life and she set an example that we'd all be proud to own.
Sad to hear of Michele's death...we were good red head friends during our school years....she was a loving and fun person and have great memories of our youg life together. She has left her boys to carry on...
Really a terrible loss. I knew Michelle all through elementary, Central Junior High and LSH. I'm not sure but we might have even had a date at one time. She was a super person and a lot of fun. She will surely be missed by all.
Michelle Goldberg Levin, 71, passed away peacefully on December 5, 2014, at the Cleveland Clinic. She was surrounded by Richard, her husband of 50 years, and her four sons, Gary, Jay, Randall and Douglas. She is also survived by loving daughters-in-law Cathleen Bolek, Carolyn Levin, Emily Levin and Lauren Levin; grandchildren Julia, Jordan, Joshua, Samuel and Henry; sister-in-law, Marjorie Moskovitz; and a large extended family of cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws and close friends, to whom she was devoted. She was preceded in death by parents Morris and Ida Goldberg and her brother David. She was a fixture in Summit County arts and public service circles and nationally in Jewish organizations. She worked 25 years for Summit County Children Services, serving as a key connector of local organizations, agencies and businesses, before retiring in 2004 due to serious illness. She began there in 1979 as a social worker in the intake department, which she eventually led as supervisor. In 1985, she became Coordinator of Volunteer Services and began focusing on community development, conducting seminars and workshops on child abuse and neglect for other organizations. She also expanded the Christmas toy and gift program, so that every child received new pajamas, socks, books and stuffed animals in addition to toys. She later founded and served as director of the Family Resource Unit, which she designed to connect local business and other community resources to families in need. She also served as president of DOVIA, the professional organization for volunteer directors, and was honored by The Volunteer Center for her work training boards of trustees and other volunteer directors.
She served as president of Beth El Congregation, 1998-2000, and on its Board of Trustees for over 30 years, where she had great success in fundraising and renovation projects. She was a dedicated member of Na'amat USA for 45 years, serving as Akron president and two stints as a national officer, often focusing on leadership development. She also served as an officer for the Children's Concert Society, for whom she developed hundreds of in-school concert programs and chaired concert performances at E.J. Thomas Hall. She served many other community organizations over the years, including the Tuesday Musical Club, the Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Cleveland.
She was born June 7, 1943, in Akron, Ohio. Her mother was an accomplished pianist, and her father moved the family to Lima, Ohio, to go into business when Michelle was one year old. She visited family in Akron frequently, eventually meeting and dating Richard V. Levin while in high school. She attended Northwestern University but later joined Richard at Western Reserve University, where she earned an A.B. in English. She returned there at age 43 for an M.S.S.A., which she received from Case Western Reserve in 1988.
She was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in September 2003, losing most of the use of her legs in the process. Despite being given less than a year to live, both initially and on several future occasions, she persisted in therapy and survived more than 11 years, enjoying many joyful occasions with family and friends, regaining with great determination the ability to walk for a brief time, and resuming her years of volunteer service, which began in high school and continued into the final year of her life.
Melinda Barnhardt (Jud)
A deeply-felt loss of someone entwined with so many early memories. I loved seeing her at the 50th reunion, corresponded subsequently, and hoped to see her again after re-settling in Ohio. Now I applaud her astoundingly effective, giving life! Thanks so much, Tracey, for sending the obituary.
Pat Lynn
I have so many vivid memories of Michelle and her family. We were close friends at Roosevelt and for several years enjoyed activities with Melinda and another classmate as members of our own Friendly Society Club. I went home to Cleveland with an OSU classmate one year; Michelle and Dick came over to visit. That was in the mid-60s and the last time we spent quality time together. During the past year Michelle and I stayedin touch via this website .May her passing be mourned and her life celebrated.
W. (Larry) Brunk
I met Michelle in the first grade in the fall of 1949. We went through elementary school together. During those early years she always seemed more mature than the other kids. She had a knack for adopting to any personality and while she enjoyed humor, she was very capable of serious school work as well. She was an excellent student, a constant friend and was always a lady. She did many great things in her short life and she set an example that we'd all be proud to own.
C. Elaine Johns (Sampley)
Sad to hear of Michele's death...we were good red head friends during our school years....she was a loving and fun person and have great memories of our youg life together. She has left her boys to carry on...
W. (Larry) Brunk
Really a terrible loss. I knew Michelle all through elementary, Central Junior High and LSH. I'm not sure but we might have even had a date at one time. She was a super person and a lot of fun. She will surely be missed by all.
Larry Haley
Ray Shaner
Ray Shaner
Michelle Goldberg Levin, 71, passed away peacefully on December 5, 2014, at the Cleveland Clinic. She was surrounded by Richard, her husband of 50 years, and her four sons, Gary, Jay, Randall and Douglas. She is also survived by loving daughters-in-law Cathleen Bolek, Carolyn Levin, Emily Levin and Lauren Levin; grandchildren Julia, Jordan, Joshua, Samuel and Henry; sister-in-law, Marjorie Moskovitz; and a large extended family of cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws and close friends, to whom she was devoted. She was preceded in death by parents Morris and Ida Goldberg and her brother David. She was a fixture in Summit County arts and public service circles and nationally in Jewish organizations. She worked 25 years for Summit County Children Services, serving as a key connector of local organizations, agencies and businesses, before retiring in 2004 due to serious illness. She began there in 1979 as a social worker in the intake department, which she eventually led as supervisor. In 1985, she became Coordinator of Volunteer Services and began focusing on community development, conducting seminars and workshops on child abuse and neglect for other organizations. She also expanded the Christmas toy and gift program, so that every child received new pajamas, socks, books and stuffed animals in addition to toys. She later founded and served as director of the Family Resource Unit, which she designed to connect local business and other community resources to families in need. She also served as president of DOVIA, the professional organization for volunteer directors, and was honored by The Volunteer Center for her work training boards of trustees and other volunteer directors.
She served as president of Beth El Congregation, 1998-2000, and on its Board of Trustees for over 30 years, where she had great success in fundraising and renovation projects. She was a dedicated member of Na'amat USA for 45 years, serving as Akron president and two stints as a national officer, often focusing on leadership development. She also served as an officer for the Children's Concert Society, for whom she developed hundreds of in-school concert programs and chaired concert performances at E.J. Thomas Hall. She served many other community organizations over the years, including the Tuesday Musical Club, the Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Cleveland.
She was born June 7, 1943, in Akron, Ohio. Her mother was an accomplished pianist, and her father moved the family to Lima, Ohio, to go into business when Michelle was one year old. She visited family in Akron frequently, eventually meeting and dating Richard V. Levin while in high school. She attended Northwestern University but later joined Richard at Western Reserve University, where she earned an A.B. in English. She returned there at age 43 for an M.S.S.A., which she received from Case Western Reserve in 1988.
She was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in September 2003, losing most of the use of her legs in the process. Despite being given less than a year to live, both initially and on several future occasions, she persisted in therapy and survived more than 11 years, enjoying many joyful occasions with family and friends, regaining with great determination the ability to walk for a brief time, and resuming her years of volunteer service, which began in high school and continued into the final year of her life.