Elena Levinsky

Elena (Sartori) Levinsky of Newton, passed away on Tuesday afternoon, November 18th at 94 years of age. Elena was born Elena Schnaidscher on February 14, 1931, in Milan, Italy, to Elvira and Moishe Schaidscher (later Michele Sartori) They were Russian Jews who had met at medical school in Bologna and remained in Italy to practice dentistry. After Mussolini's government passed laws targeting Jews in 1938, the family – which included her beloved older brother, Leo – fled, first to England and then, in 1940, to the United States. They eventually settled in New York City. Elena grew up in a tumultuous household and at 17 decided to start her life independently, moving to Boston where she enjoyed an active social life, living in a walk-up on Beacon Hill. She also lived with other young women at the Franklin Square House in the South End. In what would much later turn out to be a precursor to her career path, she found other women regularly coming to her for her thoughtful advice.

Elena enjoyed an active dating life and went on what she thought would be a routine blind date that ended up changing her life. She and Norman Levinsky, a medical student at Harvard, spent three hours at a Chinese restaurant talking well past closing time. Months later, Norman told her that he loved her and that she should kick him under the table if she was ready to let him know she felt the same. While Elena was away visiting family, she realized how much she loved him. She called to tell him and Norman said he never knew how much a phone call could change his life. The next time she saw Norman, he got a good hard kick under the table.

They married and moved to Bethesda where Norman was working for the NIH and Elena was a secretary. In 1958, they started their family. As a girl, Elena had never been offered the opportunity to go to college. She did not know exactly what profession she wanted to pursue but she did know she wanted a career. Women in those years were generally relegated to three choices: nurse, teacher, or secretary. Elena always asked why men were allowed to be different from one another in their aspirations, yet women were all presumed to want the same thing. This was part of her awakening as a fervent feminist.

Few women started college in their 40s in those years, but she decided to pursue her Bachelors Degree, then her Masters Degree in social work from Boston University. Elena's career began at a feminist practice in Kenmore Square, and then she opened her own practice at home. Her impact on her clients was so profound that many continued to visit her long after retirement, until this past year. They wrote constantly of the profound change she made in their lives, including one who credits her entire career and philosophy as a therapist to Elena. Some notes on mom's philosophy on life she left us:
"It isn't what is–it's what you think is."
"Question everything."
"We give ourselves away when we allow ourselves to be judged by others."

In the 1970's, Elena and Norman bought a dilapidated 1933 Georgian Colonial in Newton that she completely re-envisioned, visiting auctions, scouring the newspaper and using her intuitive aptitude in order to create an environment that captivated everyone who walked in the door. That experience inspired Elena to establish a second practice as an interior designer.

Over 48 years of marriage, Elena said that every year together got better. Every anniversary and birthday, her most precious gift was a long letter from Norman. After all their years together, he managed to find something new he loved about her with each letter.

Norman passed away in 2004. Mom moved to her next home in Wellesley, another opportunity to decorate and reinvent, before coming to Lasell Village in 2013. Here she has found a supportive community, first with the residents and in more recent years, with the dedicated staff and caregivers who have helped her through health challenges.

Every caregiver has shared anecdotes about how mom wanted to know more about their lives, help them solve problems, and include them in her family. Elena was a committed Liberal keeping up with politics and one of her sadly unfilled wishes was to outlive the current president. What made Elena so unique and earned such a special place in the hearts of so many, were the very qualities that made her so successful as a social worker: Her generosity and genuine interest in others. Her non-judgmental, accepting nature. And her empathy.

Elena was the beloved wife of the late Norman Levinsky and was the loving mother of Harold Levinsky, Andy Levinsky and Nancy Safran and her husband Howard. She was the cherished grandmother of Benjamin Safran and
Liza Holley, Alison Safran, Emma Safran and Liliana Safran. Elena was the dear sister of the late Leo Sartori.

Elena's funeral service will be held at the Chapel at Sharon Memorial Park, 40 Dedham Street, Sharon, on Sunday, November 23rd at 1:PM. Immediately following the burial, Shiva will be observed at the home of Nancy & Howard Safran through Sunday evening.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Elena's memory may be made to: Direct Relief, A Worldwide Humanitarian Relief Organization: 6100 Wallace Becknell Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93117 www.directrelief.org.

Funeral service at the Chapel at Sharon Memorial Park where burial will take place after the service.
Shiva, immediately following the burial at the home of Nancy & Howard Safran through Sunday evening only