Stephanie B. Levine
Artist donated proceeds from the sale of her work to the Kennedy Krieger Institute
Stephanie B. Levine, an artist who was born with cerebral palsy but refused to let it define her life and for years regularly appeared on WJZ-TV’s annual cerebral palsy telethon, died Jan. 27 of complications from an infection at Gilchrist Hospice Care in Towson. The Pikesville resident was 46. With “her courage and determination, her never willing to let obstacles get in her way, Stephanie was an inspiration to so many,” said Richard Sher, a longtime family friend and retired WJZ reporter who is moderator of “Square Off” on WMAR-TV. “And what a fabulous smile.”
“Stephanie’s life philosophy was ‘You can’t stop me,’ ” said Tracy Pilath, who first met Ms. Levine when they were 4-year-olds growing up in Pikesville.
“She always had a smile for everybody and was deeply concerned about other people and how they were doing,” she said. “I have lost the dearest friend.”
The daughter of Bobby Levine, a Coca-Cola salesman, and Maddie Levine, a homemaker, Stephanie Brooke Levine was born in Baltimore and raised in Pikesville.
“Stephanie lived across the street from me and I’d see her sitting outside. One day, I got off the school bus and decided to go over and talk to her,” recalled Ms. Pilath. “And from that, a beautiful friendship was born.”
“As a child she would appear regularly on Channel 13’s annual cerebral palsy telethon during the 1970s that I co-hosted with Rhea Feikin,” Mr. Sher said.
Ms. Levine was a graduate of Owings Mills High School, and from 1999 to 2004 worked in the business office of the Marriott hotel in the Inner Harbor.
Ms. Levine, who began painting in acrylics in 2011, was only able to paint with one hand.
Her art teacher, Tanya Ziniewicz, told WBAL-TV in a 2013 interview that “she picks what colors she wants. I mix the colors, hand her the brush, and she takes over and just paints. I coach her and direct her. I try to give her tips and encouragement.”
“Once she focused on art, she found out that she had a natural talent and passion for it,” Ms. Pilath said.
“She did mostly flowers and several landscapes, but landscapes were very timeconsuming because she had to wait until certain areas dried before she could continue,” her mother said. “I’m a photographer, and Stephanie asked if I could make cards from her paintings, and that’s what we did.”
Mother and daughter collaborated on producing boxes that featured eight cards.
“People liked them and she sold an enormous amount of them, and then they’d call back and order more, and she donated all of the money to Kennedy Krieger,” her mother said.
“She loved Kennedy Krieger and her doctor there who had been with her forever. She wanted to give back, and we were so proud of her for doing that.”
“Selling her art and donating the money to Kennedy Krieger was very meaningful to her,” Ms. Pilath said.
Ms. Levine’s art, known as “Paint Prints by Stephanie,” was featured in a 2013 show at Renaissance Fine Arts in Cross Keys. Ms. Levine lived independently.
“She was determined to move beyond and not be held back by a wheelchair. She cared for herself, had her own home, and had help from several caregivers. And she was accepting of that because she was going to need help to do that,” Ms. Pilath said.
“She went to Dundalk Community College. She was in plays. She went skiing, and we went parasailing together. She was hooked up to me,” she said. “Anything she wanted to do, she did it.” Ms. Levine was known for her dry sense of humor, easy laugh, and her love of telling jokes, Ms. Pilath said.
“Rarely did she ever complain, but everyone has their moments when they question their circumstances. But it wouldn’t last for long because she realized everyone has problems, and this was hers,” Ms. Pilath said. “She didn’t dwell on it because it was just part of her life, and she was determined to move on and not be held back by it.”
“She did so much for so many people, I don’t think she ever realized she was such an inspiration,” her father said. “She meant so much to so many people. It’s a value you can’t create. It’s in you.”
Funeral services for Ms. Levine were held Monday at Sol Levinson & Bros. in Pikesville.
In addition to her parents, she is survived by several uncles, aunts and nieces.