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Bert Levine Obituary

Bert Levine

Bert Levine, of Wayland MA, formerly of Bridgewater NJ, passed away peacefully at home on August 29th at the age of 79 years old. A devoted husband, a loving father, and a doting grandfather, he will be forever remembered for his integrity, generosity, and unfailing sense of humor.

Bert was born in Suffern NY on May 18, 1941 and attended New York Military Academy, Colgate University, and St. John's Law School. His career began as an advance man and a legislative assistant to Gov. Nelson Rockefeller. After law school, he worked on Capitol Hill in several positions, primarily as counsel to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, working mainly on health policy.

Bert later moved to New Jersey to join Johnson & Johnson as a lobbyist and eventually became the Vice President of Federal Government Relations. After twenty years working with J&J, he decided to change careers entirely, earned a PhD in political science from Rutgers University, and spent the next part of his life teaching at Rutgers, Colgate, Bucknell, and UPenn. He was the Charles Evans Hughes Fellow in Political Science Emeritus at Colgate University. He authored two books and several articles on lobbying and interest groups including "The Art of Lobbying: Building Trust and Selling Policy" which is still used in college classrooms today. Bert was seriously dyslexic so the fact that he earned both a JD and a PhD was nothing short of miraculous.

As President of the Martinsville NJ Fire Department, as an active volunteer at the Green Door Behavioral Health Clinic in Washington DC, or traveling to Winnie, Texas after Katrina to build houses for Habitat for Humanity, civic and charitable contribution and action was a central part of Bert's life.

Bert is survived by his wife of 54 years, Shelly Brown Levine, his daughter and son-in-law Robin and Matt Freeman of Wayland MA, his son and daughter-in-law Michael and Ebony Levine of Houston TX, his five grandchildren: Sawyer, Colby, and Wesley Freeman; and P.J. and Payton Levine, and his beloved Golden Retriever, Junior.

Contributions can be made in Bert's memory to the Malcolm Isaac Freeman Endowed Scholarship at Colgate University, Hamilton NY https://alumni.colgate.edu/makeagift

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To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Courier News from Sep. 1 to Sep. 2, 2020.

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4 Entries

Ross Baker

August 26, 2022

Bert was a dear friend and colleague who helped me enormously in my work by being generous in sharing his connections (which were many) in Washington.

Joseph Adler

September 5, 2020

Bert was my next door neighbor in Suffern when I was a kid. He used to play catch with me in our front yard. We exchanged some emails about 5 years ago, and I always hoped I'd see him again. The picture is of me in the carriage with Bert (left) and his older brother Stewie, probably early 1949. RIP, Bert.

Linda Firestone Koslin

September 2, 2020

Bert and I were schoolmates at Suffern Elementary School. Sometimes we would walk to my home after school and laugh hysterically over the silliest statements made by either one of us. When I think of him I can only smile as well as feeling so saddened.

Ross Baker

September 2, 2020

I will miss you, Bert. You helped me launch my career, always gave good advice, eternally cheerful and generous.

Ross K. Baker

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Funeral services provided by:

Brezniak Funeral Directors - Newton

1251 Washington Street, West Newton, MA 02465

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