Richard David Levine Sr

Richard David Levine Sr., 80 of Fort Myers FL passed away, surrounded by his family on Sunday, March 27, 2022 at Gulf Coast Hospital due to natural causes.

Born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts on November 23rd, 1941, to Astrid and Meyer Levine, he grew up and finished high school. In 1954, he met the love of his life, Barbara Ann, who he married in 1959. He worked as a Produce Buyer for Allied Groceries, ShurFine Foods before moving his family to Florida in 1986. A year later he opened up Immokalee Produce Shippers, where he was notorious for the famous “IPS Best” label. IPS moved into an updated, designed dream packing house building in 1994 and became the footprint of the new IPS efficient updated facility that he controlled until Rich retired in 2012.

Mr. Levine was a very active member of the community. He was the Vice President of the Sanibel Harbour Yacht Club and the President of Jonathan Harbor Marina. He was a Boston Red Sox spring training ticket holder and enjoyed a day at the ballpark any chance he got. His hobbies included being out on the water, playing pool, watching football, rv’ing, taking Oreo on walks, winning on the craps table but most of all, spending time with his loved ones.

Richard was preceded in death by his daughter Tracy, his parents Astrid and Meyer and his sisters Joanne, Linda and Shirley.

Rich is survived by his wife Barbara, two brothers - Danny and Randy, one sister- Sally, son Richard and daughter-in-law Debra, daughter Robin and son-in-law Bruce, 15 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

Funeral Services will be held from 2:00PM - 4:00PM, April 2nd,2022 at Hodges Funeral Home at Lee Memorial Park.

In Memoriam Rich Levine

Dear Members,

Sadly, I have news that I regretfully bring to all of you. Board Vice-President Rich Levine passed away earlier this week.

Rich was a very special person, a great family man, and one of my very best friends. I have tremendous sorrow in my heart that he is gone. He had been ill for some time but still was a very active and productive board member. He loved the club and was always there for me, the BOD and the club owners.

Rich was a very successful businessman. From very humble beginnings he and his loving wife Barbara founded Immokalee Produce Shippers which became a tremendous family business for the entire family and employed hundreds of people.

Rich was a member of this Board for 14 years his leadership helped stabilize the club in the early tumultuous years. He was a pleasure to work with and he is responsible for many of the great things that the club has become.

He was also the person who was most responsible for bringing me on the board and helping me become President in 2011. Together with our other board members, we worked diligently to make the club what it is today.

Rich was a critical member of the team that has kept the Sanibel Harbour Yacht Club financially sound, withstood the great recession of 2009, faced hurricanes, construction defects and repairs, red tide, a pandemic, extreme labor shortages and now inflation. We could not have done it without Rich’s business acumen, determination and courage.

We will miss his leadership, incredible personality, honesty, generosity and goodness and friendship. We had many happy times together at the club and elsewhere that we will always remember and cherish. Many people have said that Rich was their “best friend”. What a wonderful tribute to a wonderful man! We were all blessed to have known Rich Levine. I know that he is in heaven and will always be in our hearts. Rest in peace, dear friend

Thoughts and blessings and prayers go out to Barbara, Rick Jr. Robin and his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Sincerely,

Peter Mazzagatti

President Sanibel Harbour Yacht Club

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