Arnold Levine

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Arnold Levine, 93, passed away on June 4, 2025. Arnold was born in Brooklyn, New York on September 16, 1931, the son of George and Rose Levine. He graduated from his beloved Lafayette High School and then went on to Brooklyn College, eventually earning his Juris Doctor from Brooklyn Law School.

He was predeceased by his wife, Vivian; his son, Michael; his daughter-in-law, Romina; his grandson, Ariel (Levine); and his grandson, Adam (Greenky). He is survived by his daughter, Lynn (Brett) Greenky; his grandchildren Zachary (Brooke), Ryan (Elizabet), Samantha (Scott Cara); and five great-grandchildren: Chase, Hallie, Maya, Oliver, and Ammelia.

Arnie was, at his core, a storyteller. His favorite stories involved his boyhood friends and cherished cousins. One of his favorites was a slapstick-funny escapade with his best friend Marvin Gottstein, which included an attempt to break a bowling ball by tossing it out of a two-story window. (The bowling ball survived the fall; the same cannot be said of the Brooklyn sidewalk on which it landed.)

He recounted his time in the army. As a sergeant in the JAG Corps, he protected fellow draftees from exploitation by a corrupt car salesman. He reminded his listeners that he built a legal business from the ground up, achieving success beyond his wildest dreams. In his thirties and early forties, he was a leader in the Canarsie Jewish Community, where he helped build a synagogue and kept it afloat by producing musicals, often featuring his wife. An impressive golfer, he shared how he won four club championships and countless bets, relishing the accolades and respect he earned on the golf course.

Some of his funniest stories centered around a cousin’s dinner club, where he and his wife were honorary members. Tears of laughter streamed down his face as he remembered the epic cooking failures and the antics of certain members.
His storytelling took a creative turn with the birth of his grandchildren. He would darken the room, climb under the tented covers, and tell them tales about the adventures of Ichabod and Joe. When his only granddaughter, Samantha, was old enough to listen, he added Susie the Slob at her insistence. The theme remained the same: the simple joys of the special love crafted by friends and relatives.
The stories at the end of his life included his deep and devoted friendship with Laura Kerzner. Laura presented a new audience and his last companion to take on more adventures.

Private graveside services will be for the immediate family.
Donations to perpetuate his memory may be made to The Syracuse Hebrew Day School www.sisskindfuneralservice.com