MARK S. LEVENTHAL

LEVENTHAL, Mark S. Engineer of Strong Family and Buildings.

Mark S. Leventhal passed away peacefully and in his daughters' hands on March 15 from Alzheimer's Disease. Mark had a great mind and an even greater heart; marrying a sharp intellect with the warmest of personalities. Mark was deeply grateful for the life he had and continually looked for ways to improve the world around him. This combination made Mark the ultimate caregiver; he proactively and patiently sought ways to care for his family and his community. As an executive at The Beacon Companies, Mark was celebrated for bringing technical expertise to the management of construction projects. Mark cultivated this knowledge through his own experience and skill and the deep respect for and relationships he had with the carpenters, plumbers, landscapers, engineers, and other professionals tasked with executing Beacon's ambitious plans. His proximity to mechanics fueled creative solutions. He routinely foresaw technical problems that might arise in the construction or life of a building and developed innovative approaches to ensure safe, quality construction. This mindset enabled Mark to design new systems that streamlined buildings' construction and management. Mark's technical focus led him to the forefront of energy conservation. In the late 1980s and early 90s, Mark identified a business case to make upfront capital investments to fuel long term reduction in energy use. He introduced efficient light bulbs to and identified water conservation opportunities in commercial real estate. After the sale of Beacon, Mark saw an opportunity to develop a smaller scale commercial and residential real estate business in Rhode Island. With Stonehenge Partners, he enjoyed being closely involved in every aspect of the work, from the building, to the financing, to the leasing. Mark loved to combine his engineering and real estate development experience with his community interests, and played significant roles in the building committees for several organizations including Temple Emanuel, Hebrew College, and Brown University Hillel. Throughout his life, Mark had an extraordinary commitment to his family. He was reliable, loving, and ever present. Those values were seen in the enduring and special relationships he shared with his parents, Muriel and Norman Leventhal, and his in-laws Estelle and Morris Ringer. Mark delighted in being the father of three daughters – Emily, Sara, and Rebecca – in whom he fostered a love of learning, confidence in their own capabilities, and a commitment to justice. Mark prioritized being a grandfather, reframing his Alzheimer's diagnosis as an opportunity to spend time daily with his grandchildren. He spent afternoons on extended adventures with his grandsons, helped repair his grandchildren's schools, and worked to instill in his grandchildren both the knowledge he had cultivated and the values that guided him. Mark and Donna jointly forged this strong family. Mark and Donna met in high school and grew into adulthood with one another, building a powerful and foundational partnership. Together, they raised their daughters and collaboratively brought their complementary skills and personalities to their family, creative pursuits, and community. Even as his Alzheimer's Disease progressed, Mark's core personality remained strong: he was kind, caring, and always concerned for others. As his world seemingly became limited, Mark found constructive ways to explore his interests, socialize, and contribute to his family and community. In his final years, as he was throughout his life, Mark was surrounded by the close-knit family he and Donna built, and by ample love and laughter. Mark is survived by Donna, his wife of nearly 50 years; his children, Emily Leventhal (David Rontal), Sara Fleiss (Peter Fleiss), and Rebecca Leventhal; his grandchildren, Solomon, Morris, Annabel, Noah, Abraham, and Zeke; his siblings, Paula Sidman and Alan Leventhal; and his mother-in-law, Estelle Ringer. Family and friends will gather to honor and celebrate Mark's life at Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward St, Newton at 1pm on Thursday March 17th. To view livestream of service please go to Templeemanuel.com/livestream-links/. Burial will follow at Sharon Memorial Park. Following the burial, the family will receive visitors at Mark and Donna's home on Thursday until 8:00 pm and Friday 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm. In honor of Mark, gifts may be made to Geriatric Psychiatry Fund, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Attn: Ginny Fuller, 116 Huntington Ave, Boston MA 02116.

View the online memorial for Mark S. LEVENTHAL