Carol Bauman Levy

Carol Bauman Levy, educator, community activist, friend, and devoted mother who called New Orleans home for six decades, died comfortably in her sleep in Baton Rouge on October 1st, just weeks before her 100th birthday.

Born in St. Louis in 1924 to Corinne Wolff and Sanford Bauman, Carol attended Hamilton Elementary School and was a member of Congregation Shaare Emeth before moving with her family to Dallas in 1935. There, she was confirmed at Temple Emanu-El, graduating from Highland Park High School in 1942. She then attended the University of Texas, majoring in sociology. Throughout her life, she proudly explained that while she maintained campus jobs through each semester of college, she graduated nonetheless in just three years. During this time, her parents moved to New Orleans: it was on an early visit to the city in August 1943 that she first met Byron L. Levy, her destined lifelong companion. After a courtship of three years when Byron was in the service, and all of six dates, they married after the war and enjoyed a uniquely gratifying marriage of love and devotion for 69 fulfilling years.

Carol lived with Byron in New Orleans for most of their lives. Mother to five children, Carol was first and foremost devoted to her family, but she was active in the community and served in leadership roles in a sweep of community organizations including the League of Women Voters, The Council of Jewish Women, the Temple Sinai Sisterhood, and the Parent Teacher Associations at her children's schools. Her commitment to childhood education, and especially to public schools, led to teacher accreditation in the 1960s and a career as an educational consultant lasting over twenty years as a representative for Scholastic Books. Retiring in the late 1980s, she devoted energies to new interests in gardening and calligraphy, volunteering at the New Orleans Botanical Garden at City Park and participating in activities of the New Orleans Lettering Arts Association.

In 2005, after Hurricane Katrina, Carol and Byron moved to the St. James Place Retirement Community in Baton Rouge where both became active members of their new community. In Baton Rouge, as throughout her life, Carol's characteristic enthusiasm, good cheer, and sincere concern for others enlarged her circle of friends.

Throughout the years, and especially at St. James, Carol selflessly encouraged and supported Byron's passionate dedication to art. In his final years, Carol devoted her attentions exclusively to Byron's comfort and care. Since his death in 2015, Carol continued to call St. James her home.

Carol's children and grandchildren are indebted to the kindness and generosity of the enormously committed staff and friends at the St. James Place Retirement Community who were attentive to their mother's / grandmother's needs. A very special appreciation and thanks is extended to Ms. Shirley Burks, whose extraordinary patience, gentleness, talent, and insight sustained our mother's / grandmother's health and happiness in the years since our father's / grandfather's death. The grace and beauty of Carol’s final months must also be credited to the service, care, and reassurance provided by Susie Boudinot of The Hospice of Baton Rouge. All of this contributed to Carol’s good fortune, even as she declined.

Carol was also preceded in death by her eldest daughter, Dianne, who died in the 1960s, by her fourth child, Carol Jane, who died as an infant, and by her brother, Sanford Bauman of Austin, TX. She is survived by her three children, Cynthia Levy Howey (husband, Terry Howey) of Baton Rouge and Seal Beach, CA, Byron (Ron) Robert Levy (wife, Ellen) of Hancock, NH, and Nancy Levy Midvidy (husband, David) of Dobbs Ferry, NY. Her six grandsons, Colin Levy, Alex Levy, BJ Howey, Adam Midvidy, Ethan Levy, and Jeremy Midvidy, remember her as “Coco.”

Carol was a member of Congregation Temple Sinai in New Orleans over a span of eight decades and a more recent member of B’nai Israel in Baton Rouge.

A private service honors Carol’s wishes, with interment in Hebrew Rest Mausoleum in New Orleans.

In lieu of flowers or donations, the family asks that friends cherish, and profit from, their fond memories of Byron and Carol.

To view and sign the online guest book, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com