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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E824]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
REMEMBERING THE LIFE OF INA RAE BURDMAN LEVY
______
HON. TIM RYAN
of ohio
in the house of representatives
Friday, September 11, 2020
Mr. RYAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Ina Rae
Burdman Levy, of Sarasota, Florida, who passed away peacefully Sunday,
Aug. 30, 2020, at the age of 91.
Mrs. Levy was born July 22, 1929, to Harry and Doris Burdman, in
Youngstown, Ohio. Each of her parents immigrated to the United States
from Russia in the 1920s. Mrs. Levy was raised in Youngstown, and in
1957, she married the love of her life, Rabbi Theodore S. Levy.
Together for 48 beautiful years, they lived in Huntington, West
Virginia, and Waterbury, Connecticut, and then settled with their
family in Syracuse, New York, for 30 years. After Syracuse they spent
10 years on Hilton Head Island, where Rabbi Levy died in 2004. Ina Rae
moved to Sarasota, Florida and into the Sarasota Bay Club, where she
enjoyed continued community work, new friends and being closer to her
children and grandchildren.
Mrs. Levy's life was full of educational pursuits, community
involvement, philanthropic work, family and travel. Ina Rae Levy earned
her Bachelor of Science degree in education in 1967 and a Master of
Science degree in family therapy in 1972 from Syracuse University. Her
relationship with Syracuse University continued throughout the 1970s
while she worked as an assistant professor and assistant to the dean in
the College of Human Development. Mrs. Levy was involved in innumerable
local and worldwide organizations and received many awards as a result
of her impact in those organizations. She was vice president of the New
York State Federations of Women's Clubs and was the first president of
the Women's Assembly of Syracuse Jewish Federation. Levy was also
active in the National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods and was the
president of her district. As a vice chair for the World Union for
Progressive Judaism, she traveled extensively with her husband,
visiting member Reform Congregations around the world. While in
Syracuse, Mrs. Levy was also the president of the prestigious Upstate
Medical Center. Levy once received the Hannah G. Solomon Award from the
National Council of Jewish Women.
Mrs. Levy was also tireless in her devotion to the equality and
advancement of women. She was named by the Syracuse Post-Standard as
the Woman of Achievement in Career Development in 1972 and again in
1985 she was named the Overall Woman of Achievement. In addition, she
was always involved in and passionate about Planned Parenthood and The
League of Women Voters wherever she lived. One of Ina Rae's proudest
achievements was being the only woman invited to participate in the
first ordination of Rabbis since the Holocaust in Dresden, Germany.
When Mrs. Levy moved to Sarasota, she once again became active in her
synagogue, became an active member of the American Jewish Committee
(AJC), chairing fundraising events in both Sarasota and Tampa. She
always was concerned with the plight of Jews around the world. In 2005,
Mrs. Levy was instrumental in the donation of a Holocaust Torah from a
synagogue in Youngstown to a small synagogue in a small Russian
community. She regretted not being able to attend the Torah dedication
herself.
Despite all of the accolades and achievements, foremost for Mrs. Levy
was her love for her family. She had three younger brothers, Ronald, B.
Richard and Kenneth Burdman, all who predeceased her. She leaves behind
two sisters-in-law, Babette Burdman and Marsha Burdman and their
families. In addition to her children, Seth (and wife, Alice), Cyndi
and Jonathan (and wife, Karen), she leaves five grandchildren; and five
great-grandchildren. They were all the joys of her life.
I sincerely thank Mrs. Levy for her years of dedicated service and
activism. She truly embodied the spirit and grit of the Mahoning
Valley. I am proud to be friends with Mrs. Levy's son, Jonathan, and
his wife, Karen. My deepest condolences go out to Mrs. Levy's entire
family, and to all whose lives she touched.
____________________