Obituary of Wendell Mitchell Levi

Wendell Mitchell Levi, Jr. M.D. F.A.C.S., Surgeon, Farmer, Naturalist died at 88, Wednesday, November 18, 2015, from a brief battle with cancer, at his home surrounded by family. Born September 13, 1927, he was the son of the late Wendell Mitchell Levi and Bertha London Levi, of Sumter, SC. He graduated from Sumter High School, Class of 1944. He briefly attended the Citadel, before enlisting, at the age of 17, in the U.S. Army Infantry. He was on board ship, en route to the Japanese invasion, when Hiroshima was bombed. He was among the first troops to arrive in occupied Japan. Upon his return, he enrolled at the University of Virginia, where he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1950. He earned his Medical Degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in 1954 and completed his internship at Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. He completed his surgical residency at MUSC and was Chief Resident from 1959 to 1960. During his residency, he married Kathryn Weinberg, of Frederick, Maryland. He practiced in Sumter for 40 years as a General and Thoracic surgeon, founding Sumter Surgical Associates, P.A. “He dedicated his life to saving lives in the Sumter community,” says his wife of 57 years, Kathryn. They were charter members of Les Trente and members of The Assembly in Sumter. He was a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a Member of the South Carolina Surgical Society. Upon his retirement at the age of 72, he became a full time farmer at his beloved Sans Souci Plantation, the 18th century summer home of the Rutledge Family, signers of the Declaration of Independence. He also wrote and published his memoirs, “Fifty Years of Surgery, A Personal Experience,” in 2011. Over the years, he raised Brangus cattle and hay, along with his personal vegetable garden and a variety of fowl. He also designed and built a large pavilion and lodge, which is used for weddings and private parties at the farm. He placed Sans Souci in a Conservation Easement, so that it would always remain undeveloped and forever a green space in Sumter County. Dr. Levi served on the boards of The Congaree Land Trust, Shaw A.F.B. Restoration Advisory Board, Temple Sinai and Palmetto Pigeon Plant, founded by his father. He raised money to establish a fund for the maintenance and preservation of the historic Sumter Jewish Cemetery. In keeping with his philanthropic nature, Dr. Levi and his wife established three nursing scholarships through The Tuomey Foundation for Central Carolina Technical College, in honor of three nurses, Frances Driver, Betty Caulkins and Fair Edmunds. Each of these scholarships was awarded for the first time this year to deserving nursing students. “He was truly a good man, an honest man, who always tried to do the right thing,” says his son, Dr. Mitchell Levi. “He loved God; he loved his family; he loved helping people and his community through medicine, and after retirement through philanthropy. He loved the outdoors and his farm.” Dr. Levi is survived by his wife, Kathryn Weinberg Levi, twin sister Patricia Levi Barnett, children, Kathryn Levi Hoover (Michael), London Levi Andes (Jerry), Wendell Mitchell Levi, III (Domini), five grandchildren, Kathryn McAllister Hoover, Anna Marshall Hoover, Alexandra London Andes, Sophia London Levi, Wendell Mitchell Levi, IV and nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by his sister, Estella Levi Kirscheimer. Pallbearers: Dr. James Ellett, Dr. Gene Dickerson, Dr. Henry Moses, Dr. Mark Crabbe, Rocklin Hoover, Heath Hoover, Todd Hoover, Brent Hiott, and Gene Dickerson, Jr. The family would like to thank the caregivers, Saretta Burns, Linda White, Herlonda Washington, Stacey McConico, Viola Magazine, Jonelle Jefferson, Dorothy Marion and Caris Hospice, who all showed such love and compassion for Dr. Levi and the family. A Celebration of the Life of Dr. Levi will be held at 2 P.M. Sunday at The Pavilion at San Souci Farm with a reception following. A private burial will be held at the Sumter Jewish Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Tuomey Foundation’s “Levi Nursing Scholarship Fund,” 102 N. Main St. Sumter, S.C. 29150 or to Wilson Hall School, 520 Wilson Hall Rd. Sumter, S.C. 29150 or to a relief agency of your choice for flood victims of Sumter County. On-line condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of the arrangements. 803-775-9386.