Brian Levantine's Obituary
Brian Levantine, 74, of Oakland, CA, passed away peacefully at home on January 10, after a decades-long journey with prostate cancer. Born and raised in Los Angeles to Daniel and Rose (Zimtbaum) LeVantine, Brian grew from a curious and adventurous boy into a true renaissance man, devoted husband, and loving father.
With the Vietnam War, Brian was called to service, and he enlisted in the Navy. He spent nine months aboard the USS America as a technician maintaining radar systems.
Just before leaving for boot camp, Brian met Valerie Garrett while on vacation in the Sierras – and it was love at first sight. They built and fostered a long-distance relationship, and when he returned from the aircraft carrier in 1973, they were married. They became parents, first in 1978 with Sarah, and again in 1981 with Carrie. Brian absolutely adored being a girl dad, constantly ferrying between girl scouts, school field trips, and ballet classes.
After fulfilling his military service, Brian took his technical skills and applied them to computers – first as a field technician, and then becoming a software developer, leading to a long and fulfilling career.
Brian had many hobbies – including photography, motorcycling, travel, skiing, cooking, enjoying food and drink, lifelong learning, and seeking new experiences in general. He took his love of tinkering and home improvement to another level, though, by building furniture, remodeling, and building additions on to multiple houses. He loved sharing his hobbies with others, including passing them along to his daughters.
Throughout his life, Brian impacted everyone around him positively. He loved meeting new people and making them smile – from new family, to neighbors, to the folks working checkout at the grocery store. He had a strong spine and a warm heart, embodying positive masculinity every day. He never stopped seeing the best in people, and never took life too seriously.
Brian is survived by his wife Valerie of 52 years, daughters Sarah and Carrie, son-in-law Neal, and “bonus daughter” Sheree; sisters Clio Thorpe and Paulette LeVantine, and their families; countless members of the LeVantine and Garrett extended families; and dear friends he has collected throughout his life. He was preceded in death by his parents, Daniel and Rose (Zimtbaum) LeVantine, and sister Suzanne Aten.
All are welcome at the Celebration of Life for Brian, to be held at Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland, at 2pm on Sunday, January 25.
Happy the Man, by John Dryden
Happy the man, and happy he alone,
He who can call today his own:
He who, secure within, can say,
Tomorrow do thy worst, for I have lived today.
Be fair or foul or rain or shine
The joys I have possessed, in spite of fate, are mine.
Not Heaven itself upon the past has power,
But what has been, has been, and I have had my hour.
What’s your fondest memory of Brian?
What’s a lesson you learned from Brian?
Share a story where Brian's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Brian you’ll never forget.
How did Brian make you smile?