Michael David Levin

LEVIN, Michael David BES, MArch. M.A.I.B.C. March 13, 1946 - March 28, 2016 Husband, father, friend and architect, Michael David Levin died on Monday morning very early with his best friend and wife, Gabrielle at his side. A romance sparked by a hitchhiking incident in 1965, culminated in Virden's first Hippy Wedding when they eventually married in 1968. They remained so until Michael's dying day. They moved between London, England, Toronto, Winnipeg, Virden, Regina and Edmonton until they finally found home in Victoria. Up until Christmas and despite his battle with cancer, Michael was actively involved with his architectural practice, Praxis, a firm he started in 1992. Many days, he would get treatment in the morning and work that same afternoon, always hopeful and optimistic. He had a wry sense of humour and a prodigious appetite for Gabrielle's great cooking; he loved family, life and ideas. His knowledge and passion for good jazz, inspiring architecture and city planning, made Michael a wonderful companion to anyone lucky enough to know him. Wherever he went, he sought out buildings by his architectural heroes, especially Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier. Michael was born in London, England. He earned his degrees at the University of Waterloo and completed his masters at the University of Manitoba, in Winnipeg. For many of us, he was an introduction to Winnipeg's famed north end with its tradition of chopped liver, lox, bagels and hamantaschen, and a particular intellectual culture. Michael practiced in Toronto, Edmonton, Regina and Victoria. As well as his close family, including six sisters- and brothers-in-law, numerous nieces and nephews, and brother David, he will be missed by many colleagues, clients and friends. Michael was pre-deceased by his daughter, Manya Rachel, his sister Naomi, parents Earl and Helen Levin and Dr. Denis and Paddy Yates, Gabrielle's parents. He leaves behind son Dr. Joshua Levin and daughters Sacha and Simone Rose, as well of course as Gabrielle Penelope Levin. His family is devastated now he can no longer be with them.