Lawrence Maxwell Levy

Lawrence Maxwell Levy passed away on January 3rd, after a long illness. He was born in Buffalo, New York to Mildred (Kirschenbaum) and Elmer Levy. He had a successful 40-plus year career as a lawyer with Brown Rudnick Boston, where he was a major force in the development of the London office. Larry is survived by his beloved wife of almost 40 years, Peggy (Gilmore) Levy, his sister Elizabeth Levy, and his children and their spouses Erica Levy-Ringel (Paul Ringel) and Dana Levy (Patrick Kirby), as well as his four grandchildren: Noah and Isabel (Kirby) and Julia and Sam (Ringel), plus literally countless friends.

Larry’s impact is seen in his many professional successes, such as the growth of a small local law office into a 200-lawyer international firm, and his deep commitment to the nonprofit work of Facing History and Ourselves, where he was a board member and advised the organization for decades, helping to grow it from a small Holocaust educational program in Brookline to a global organization that promotes civic learning. But his real legacy lives on through the many people who love him. It shows up everywhere from the songs he sang while playing guitar, the potato salad recipe he made in bulk for his ravenous grandkids, his and Peggy’s global travels that yielded friends and colleagues around the world, and his deep and abiding commitment to the rituals and traditions that kept his family gathering together year after year. Larry attended Yale University, graduating in 1959, then Harvard Law School, class of 1962, and until his death remained close friends with several of his classmates. In addition to his deep roots in Boston, Larry also remained connected to his longtime communities in London and Nantucket, where he and Peggy spent many years.

Larry’s true superpower was his ability to bring people together. He was welcoming of everyone, open-minded and open-hearted, and truly believed in the adage, “if you have more than enough, you build a bigger table, not a taller wall.” A lifelong Democrat, Larry always believed in sharing his good fortune and lifting others as he climbed. Larry had a profound love of travel, skiing, the beach in Nantucket, New Orleans jazz, Pete Seeger songs, good food, excellent wine, and -- more than anything else -- being surrounded by his friends and family while enjoying any and all of the above.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Facing History and Ourselves (https://give.facinghistory.org/). And consider gathering some friends and family and sharing a wonderful meal or a great glass of wine in his memory. Larry would like that.

Please join us on Saturday, January 11, 2025, for a brief program and reception to celebrate Larry’s life from 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm at the Battery Wharf Hotel, 3 Battery Wharf, Boston, MA.