Julian M. Levitt Obituary (2007) - Kansas City, Missouri

Judge Julian M. Levitt, 88, of Kansas City, MO, died July 4, 2007 at Menorah Medical Center. Funeral services will be held Friday, July 6, 2007, 1:00pm at The Louis Memorial Chapel, 6830 Troost Avenue. Burial at Mt. Carmel Cemetery. The family requests no flowers. In lieu thereof, contributions may be made to a charity of donor’s choice. Judge Levitt served as a Circuit Judge on the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri for 19 years and was the first judge in the newly created Division 17, beginning in November, 1969 through his retirement in December, 1988. He served on the State Circuit Court Budget Committee and on the Executive Council of the Missouri Judicial Conference. After retirement, he served as a special judge, senior judge and as an arbitrator and mediator. Judge Levitt was a member of the Missouri Bar, the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Assocition, the American Judicature Society and other law-related organizations. Prior to his appointment to the Circuit Court in 1969, he was a partner in the law firm of Terte, Levi, Rosenwald, Wasserstrom and Levitt in downtown Kansas City. He was born in Des Moines, Iowa on December 13, 1918, and received his law degree from Drake University in 1942. He served in the U.S. Army in WWII. He was a member of the Mnookin- Brown American Legion Post No. 468 and in recent years of the R.C. “Connie” Burns Post No. 71. He was a member of B’nai B’rith and Congregation Beth Shalom and formerly on the board of Jewish Family and Children Services. Julian was a strong supporter of professional sports in Kansas City, particularly the Royals and the Chiefs. He had a great interest in personal histories and enjoyed both sharing stories and hearing them. He was a generous contributor to many charities. In recent years, he developed a keen interest in playing duplicate bridge. Julian was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Marian Blond Levitt, who died in 2001. He is survived by his sons, Robert A. Levitt and Michael R. Lee, both of Englewood, CO; his sister, Miriam Krantz, Overland Park, KS; his sister-in-law, Ruth Blond, Los Angeles, CA; and many nieces and nephews. Also surviving are Tzivia Gaba, a devoted and special friend, and John Steen, a loyal friend and caregiver.