Martin Levin

Martin H. "Marty" Levin

1957 - 2013 NORTH ADAMS Martin H. "Marty" Levin passed peacefully Wednesday, surrounded by family and friends.

Born March 12, 1957, in Framingham, he grew up in Uxbridge, graduating from Uxbridge High School in 1976. Marty attended North Adams State College, graduating in 1980 with a degree in sociology.

He was a resident of North Adams ever since, touching and changing, for the better, the lives of many in his personal and professional lives. He fought cancer successfully for many years with the same passion with which he lived every minute of every day.

Marty worked with at-risk youth his entire professional life, first at the original South 40 program, and staying when it became part of Northern Berkshire Mental Health. He joined the North Adams Public School system in 2000, running the transition room at the Conte Middle School and later as the counselor at the Community Transition Program. Clients and students he worked with described him as "an inspiration," "a hero," "a friend." He was beloved by all.

In addition to his work with children, Marty was a waiter and bartender, first at The British Maid, then The Captain's Table and, most recently, Jae's Inn.

His friends describe him as "a relationship builder." He connected people not just to himself but to each other through his consistent graciousness and generosity. He loved to travel, especially to Jamaica, the home of his favorite kind of music--reggae. He was a die-hard Patriots fan, and many of his friends knew the outcome of games based on the shirt he wore the day after a game.

He spent summers at his beloved family home on Popham Beach, Maine, where he was well known and loved by all, with his warm wit and ease, reaching out to everyone.

In addition to his countless friends, Marty is survived by his mother, Ida R. Levin; his sister, Jacqueline Plummer, and her husband,, Reed; his niece, Dara R. Plummer; his godchildren, Bailee, Jacob and Tyler Duquette; his cat, Maggie; and his beloved dog, Tank.

He was predeceased by his father, Abraham Levin, and his beloved sister, Lauren M. Levin, who passed in Hawaii in December 2012.

FUNERAL NOTICE: A private graveside service will be held Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Mt. Sinai Cemetery in Portland, Maine. A Memorial Celebration for the community will be held in North Adams on Saturday, July 6, at 3 p.m. at MCLA's Church Street Center. There will be a Memorial Celebration at Popham on July 20, 1 p.m. at the Popham Chapel, Popham Beach, Phippsburg, Maine, for both Marty and Lauren Levin.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Popham Beach Improvement Association, c/o W. Racine, 40 Bayledges Road, Phippsburg, ME 04562; the Marty Levin Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Greylock Federal Credit Union, 150 West St. Pittsfield, MA 01201

Donations can be made to any local branch, beginning Tuesday June 25, or Popcares, a cancer support organization that generously assisted Marty and Tank, P.O Box 482 Williamstown, MA 01267.