Natalie Brenner

Natalie Levine Brenner of Bethesda, MD, passed away peacefully on September 1, 2025, at the age of 93.

Natalie is survived by her daughter, Jane McCreadie (Richard); her son, Jon Leibowitz (Amy), and her grandchildren, Alison and Zachary. She is also survived by her brother, Arthur Levine (Barbara); nieces Jennifer Levine (Bill Staedeli); and Karen Donohue (Dan Mackeben), and their children Samuel Donohue; Eleanor Donohue (Trenton) and their daughter Elsie; and Dylan Mackeben; by her nephews Dr. Larry Leibowitz (Lisa), their children Maia and Ben; Daniel Leibowitz and his children Remy and Cyrus; by her step-children Dr. Tamara Brenner (Russell Keating); Kendra Kroll (James) and their daughter Angelina; and Dr. Lyle Brenner (Samantha Greene) and their daughter Danielle; and by many beloved extended family and friends. Natalie was predeceased by her second husband, Dr. Alfred Brenner; by her former husband by divorce who was the father of her children, Dr. Jack Leibowitz; her grandson, Matthew Ryan Leibowitz; and her niece, Jennifer Antonier.

Born and raised in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Natalie spent her early childhood years helping in her family's stationery store in the city's East End-a place she fondly recalled as offering invaluable education into the richness, warmth and struggles of the city's diverse and multi-ethnic community. A trailblazer in her own family, Natalie was the first to attend college. Her years at Smith College were transformative-she often described them as life-changing-and she remained deeply connected for the rest of her life to the friendships and experiences she gained there.

Natalie devoted much of her professional life to advocating for the union worker. She began her career working for the International Union of Operating Engineers in Boston's Back Bay and later served for many years as the administrator of a collectively bargained pension and employee benefits fund in Washington, DC.

A lifelong lover of classical music, opera, theatre, and the arts, Natalie cherished the music she learned from her mother so many years earlier and would speak fondly of the formative Met Opera performances she attended in her teens. Beginning in the mid-1960s, she began spending summers in Aspen, Colorado where she became a regular attendee at the Aspen Music Festival-and on the town's numerous hiking trails-returning for many summers to nourish her love of music and to explore Colorado's beautiful surroundings. Later, Natalie served for years on the board of the Washington Concert Opera and was a regular volunteer at a number of Washington area organizations, including American University's Katzen Arts Center.

Natalie's life was defined by the limitless joy she derived from her family as well as by her enduring friendships-spanning from childhood classmates in Bridgeport to fellow Smith alumnae, concert companions, theatergoers, and colleagues. Whether in person over a meal or by phone, she delighted in lively conversations and shared laughter with family and friends. She will be remembered for her caring spirit, warmth, and intellect-and she will be deeply missed.

The family extends its heartfelt thanks to the extraordinary caregivers and nurses who supported Natalie with such compassion in her final chapter.

A celebration of her life will be held on September 28th in Bethesda, MD.

Memorial contributions may be made in her name to the Washington Concert Opera.