GEORGE LEVIT

1929-2017

George (Pappa Bear) Levit passed away quietly August 15, 2017 in Marin County surrounded by his children. George was born May 6, 1929 in Houston, Texas to Joe and Dora Levit. He graduated from San Jacinto High School and from the University of Texas in 1950, a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma Scholastic fraternity.

After college, George joined his father and brothers, Max and Milton, at Grocers Supply Company, the family wholesale business. There George played a vital role in greatly expanding the business into new products and categories. He also converted the company into a fully computerized business. Marketing new products was George’s specialty. He famously convinced a Chicago baker to freeze his cheesecakes and named them after the baker’s daughter – Sara Lee.

Leaving Grocers Supply Co in 1978 to give it a shot on his own, George created Concept Marketing, a consulting firm for food service manufacturers. He also developed and marketed nationwide food products specifically for school lunch programs and convenience stores. In 1982, he implemented a unique shrimp purchasing program for Sysco Corporation, purchasing over 6 million pounds of shrimp from the casual comfort of his home office.

Always a committed volunteer, George served on the Board of Directors for Boys Harbor, the Houston Council for Retarded Children, Lighthouse for the Blind, Cenikor Corporation, Goodwill Industries, Central Texas United Way, and the Optimist Club. He served on the Marin County Grand Jury, developed programs for Canal Alliance and was an enthusiastic sponsor of School on Wheels and many other charities.

In 1991, George retired and moved to Mill Valley, CA.

He was a loving father, grandfather and great grandfather and a friend of Bill W’s since 1982. George was one of a kind, a modern day Don Quixote. He will be deeply missed by his family, his sponsees and the homeless kids on skid row.

George spent his youth scuba diving, snorkeling, camping, canoeing, backpacking and creating gourmet meals above the tree line. In later years, he enjoyed succulent gardening, all things food, and discovering great stocks.

George is survived by his children: Laurie Levit and Steven Ades, Kalima Rose, Nancy Levit and Cathy Underwood, and Stephen and Ann Levit. His grandchildren: Osha Levgin, Andraya Austin, Rachel Levit-Ades, Noah Levit-Ades, Joby Levit, and Mila Levit, and his great grandson, Elija Levgin. He is also survived by his brother Max and Rochelle Levit, as well as his sister in-law Lee Levit and the mother of his children, Chickie Rose. He is preceded by his brother Milton Levit.

Donations in his name may be sent to: Canal Alliance 91 Larkspur St, San Rafael, CA 94901

“I’ve lived a life that’s full I’ve travelled each and every highway.

But more, much more than this,

I did it my way.”