Thea Leavitt

1931 - 2018

Thea Mendels Leavitt

February 7, 1931 to March 25, 2018

Thea Mendels Leavitt passed away peacefully on Sunday March 25th, after a long battle with Alzheimers, with her son, Robert, and her daughter, Andrea next to her. Thea was born in The Hague, Netherlands to Annie and Bernard Mendels. Her happy childhood there ended when she and her sister, Eda and their parents were forced into hiding following the Nazi invasion of Holland.

Thea and Eda were saved by the Van Der Streek family as children in hiding in World War II. Their parents did not survive. They moved to San Mateo after the war where they joined the family of their aunt, uncle and two cousins.

After graduating from San Mateo High School, Thea attended pre-nursing classes at UC Berkeley, eventually graduating from UCSF as a Registered Nurse. There she met Samuel Leavitt to whom she was married for over 60 years. The young couple spent a year in New Haven, Connecticut and 2 years in the Washington DC area before they returned to the San Francisco Bay Area. They raised their family in Burlingame and in retirement moved to San Mateo.

Thea and Sam traveled the world together, visiting with friends and family. Their marriage was a loving and happy union with many celebrations. She was an amazing hostess, chef, flower arranger, dancer, and singer as well as a great wife, mother, and friend. Thea was involved in Head Start, the San Francisco Symphony Auxiliary, and the Samaritan House. She was a willing volunteer, working to bring medical supplies to Guatemala and helping others throughout her life.

Professionally she performed hearing and vision testing in local schools and worked in her husband Sam's pediatric practice. She had a lifelong love of music and enjoyed many years attending the San Francisco Symphony, Opera, and Ballet along with ACT, Music at Kohl Mansion, and different performances during their travels. Thea loved to sing in both organized and informal groups

She had a strong love for family and no holiday was complete without her sister, cousins, and their families. Thea was a kind and thoughtful person and was deeply loved by her family and friends. She leaves behind her daughter Andrea McGovern and son-in-law John McGovern, her son Robert Leavitt, grandchildren Samuel Harris Leavitt and Rachel Leavitt Harris, sister Eda Mendels Regan (Al), Ida Gans Braun, Henriette Gans Parkman (Ralph), and many nieces and nephews.

Her family is grateful to Mission Hospice, The Peninsula Threshold Choir and the caregivers at the Hennelly House for their care in her final months. She joins her husband Samuel in eternal rest.

"May the Waltzing and Roses last Forever."