Bert Levine

Bertrum Levine
May 11 1917 - October 30, 2017
After 100 and a half laps around the nuclear furnace, Bert Levine decided it was time to shuffle over to the other side. Bert was a highly organized, highly understated individual. As such, he wrote his own ridiculously brief obit, which we are obliged to print in full below. We didn't say we wouldn't add to it.

Bert Levine was born in New York City on May 11, 1917. He passed away October 30, 2017 at the age of 100. He was a civil Engineer who was employed on the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project and lived in Farmington New Mexico since 1963, where he was involved in some community service. He is survived by his niece, Sue Podgur, and nephew, Sam Levine, and their families. Private services will be held.

Enough said, according to Bert. Let us add a little color, if you have a minute. Born to Barnet and Gussie Levine, Bert grew up during the great depression, which helped shape him into the hard working penny pincher that he would become. Raised in Brooklyn, he was a Dodger fan, and was going to wait to make "the jump" until the World Series was over, but gave up after Houston's come back in game 5.

He served two years in the Navy during WWII looking for German subs off the East Coast and remodeling destroyers in the Charleston Navy Yard. After the war, Bert put in 39 years with the Bureau of Reclamation, and built a bazillion damns and water projects across the country, much to the dismay of the Wild River Guardians but to the delight of the fishermen. Along the way he nabbed on to his wife of 48 years, Lucy Kearney. Bert may have been the brains, but for sure, she was the boss!

Bert retired in 1979 at the age of 62 because he didn't think he had much time left. Ha! Besides following Lucy around the world, his main hobby was electric trains. His entire basement was a train table, and he was continually changing the setup, with trains going every which-a-way. His dear friend Anne Williams, who took care of him his last few years, was literally being directed through another total rebuild when Bert passed.

Putting his toys aside, Bert's primary hobby was making Farmington a better place. "He was involved in some community service," was how he put it. I'll say it was "some"!! It was "service award" here, "volunteer of the year" there, "hall of fame" of this, and "outstanding leader" of that. Based only on the plaques and awards and such we could find, he was recognized for his service on at least 14 different occasions, arguably highlighted by being named Citizen of the Year in 1985. Even at the age of 100, Bert was still involved as a 5 for 5 Donor at the Boys and Girls Club of Farmington, the San Juan College Foundation, as well as the San Juan Regional Medical Center - Conley House Foundation, giving back until the very end.

Yep, guys like Bert don't come along all the time, and when they do, they usually don't last for 100 years. Thank you for your life of service, Bert Levine. Farmington is a better place and we are better people for having you in our lives. See you on the other side.

A memorial service will be at 1:00 pm, Thursday, November 9, 2017 at Alternative Choice Funeral and Cremation. Bert's care is entrusted to Alternative Choice Funeral and Cremation, 804 N. Dustin Ave., 505-325-9611.