A giant among us has moved on. Alexandre Charles Levitch, born to the sign of Leo, July 26th, 1944 in New York City succumbed to his decades-long battle with Parkinson’s on September 19th, 2020.  

Author, poet, inventor, lawyer, business leader, art collector, and children’s advocate, he lived even larger than his 6 foot 6 self. Alex was charismatic, brilliant, magnanimous, and wise. He touched many in countless ways, whether providing mentorship, demanding excellence, sharing the magic of Adirondack Camp, or enjoying wondrous adventures around the globe. Those who loved him and whose lives were profoundly affected by him will miss him dearly. 

Alex was born in New York City to Henriette (Yetty) Coppens and Boris Levitch, young immigrants who had each recently fled to New York to escape war in Europe—Yetty from Belgium and Boris from Russia. Boris died soon after Alex’s birth, leaving behind a still-puzzling mystery whether he may have been an O.S.S. intelligence agent, working for the U.S. in Russia. As a boy, Alex moved to San Antonio, Texas where he gained the first of three stepfathers and fondly remembered days chasing snakes and climbing trees.  

Alex moved back to New York and attended Manhattan’s private Trinity School, and later Connecticut’s Choate School from which he graduated in 1962. At Choate, he gained a reputation for hijinks, a piercing intellect, and his big heart. He is fondly remembered for his bold chess play, irreverent mischief, and a disrespect for authority -- including engaging in a boisterous argument with the school’s headmaster (although family lore claims there was laughing gas involved). The Headmaster returned the favor by contacting each school Alex applied to and advised them not to accept him, leading Alex to engineer entry to the University of Michigan by applying to study Geology, then switching and earning his degree in Political Science. 

While at Michigan, Alex met his match. He fell for Linda Louise Carraher during her very first week as a Freshman when they met on a triple blind-date. Although they had been paired with other dates, Alex was instantly smitten with Linda. While still in school, they married and welcomed daughter Shawn into their new family. After graduation, Alex moved his family to New York and earned a J.D. from Columbia Law School in 1969. They then moved to Virginia for his first job as an assistant prosecutor in the U.S. Department of Justice. 

Alex led a storied career spanning both industries and continents and brought his passion for excellence, a creative entrepreneurial spirit, and principled leadership to each of his endeavors. He worked for Robert Kennedy, patented and distributed the famed “Umbroller” baby stroller, developed a time-share property in Georgia, and helped lead the leveraged buyout of Northwest Airlines. Alex focused on issues that inspired him -- such as helping create an on-line teacher development program. But perhaps his most personal undertaking was building a Moscow-based Russian investment house in the immediate aftermath of Perestroika.  

His most significant and enduring endeavor though happened on a total whim. Together with his wife, Linda, they made a spontaneous decision in 1979 to purchase the fabled, now century-old children’s summer camp, Adirondack Camp, that Alex had attended and loved as a boy. His tenure at Adirondack Camp revitalized the camp and ushered in its best years -- beginning with Alex running a New York Times ad with the headline “Camp was so much fun I bought it!”. Along the way, Alex in 2009 also helped facilitate a deal with The Lake George Land Conservancy that now protects more than 350 acres and over a mile of Lake George shoreline from development.  

Alex was forever passionate about art and writing. He would often venture home from far-flung places with extra bundles -- like a landscape painting purchased in a Budapest cafe, a sculpture brought home from Ecuador, and even a colossal bronze bust of Lenin that Alex found in Russia and had to ship to Los Angeles by boat. (The bust now lurks furtively in a wooded glen and surprises campers and their parents who come across it.) 

To honor his mother, in 2012 he published “Yetty,” a coffee-table art book, showcasing her art and remarkable history. Then in 2019 he published a book of poetry, “Imponderables Propel the Dance: the Russian Collection.” That he was able to publish “Imponderables” while living with his increasingly debilitating Parkinson’s Disease is a testament not only to his deep connection to Russia, but also to his unflagging grit and perseverance. Alex also leaves a significant body of currently unpublished work including a primer on business negotiation and a full-length novel. 

How does one distill a life well lived? Alex loved the desert, a heated political debate, his Russian roots, ABBA, all movies (from Lawrence of Arabia to chick flicks), and a sumptuous gourmet meal with sweet endings. Above all, Alex was passionate about his friends and family. Loyal, loving, and involved, he had the rare capacity to listen and to care. He always offered insightful counsel (sometimes unsolicited) and assistance. So many have shared stories in the past days of the myriad ways Alex touched their lives, gave sound advice, or helped them navigate a difficult situation (Alex would say that the gift was his - that he was happy to help and hopefully make a positive impact.) 

Alex died peacefully at home perched high above his beloved Lake George. Linda, Shawn and other loved ones were at his side. Alex is survived by his North Star, muse, and wife of more than 50 years, Linda; their daughter Shawn; her husband Kevin; his beloved grandchildren, Zan (named after her Poppi), and Arion; his sister Nadine, and his niece Kyrstie. 

Sunset 
by Rainer Maria Rilke  

My eyes already touch the sunny hill. 
going far beyond the road I have begun, 
So we are grasped by what we cannot grasp; 
it has an inner light, even from a distance-
and changes us, even if we do not reach it, 
into something else, which, hardly sensing it, 
we already are; a gesture waves us on 
answering our own wave… 
but what we feel is the wind in our faces. 

In lieu of flowers, if you would like to honor Alex, please consider a contribution to the Michael J. Fox foundation for Parkinson's or by sending a check to 'Adirondack Camp' (302 Warrick Rd. Putnam Station, NY 12861) which will be used to fund the support of a 'Nature' program that we plan to develop in Alex's honor. (Alex won the Nature Plaque when he was a camper and has always dreamed of reinvigorating the program.) 

From Senior Point, to the Pays Basque, to the Sedona desert and St. Petersburg, we intend to take a family odyssey to spread pieces of his soul. And as we cannot come together now to celebrate Alex’s outsized life and our love for him, we intend to throw an exuberant bash on the shores of Lake George complete with dancing to ABBA and marzipan in his honor sometime in 2021.