Sylvia Levkowitz, devoted wife, loving and beloved mother, grandmother and aunt passed away peacefully on December 12, 2023, three months shy of her 98th birthday, surrounded by loved ones.
She was born in the Bronx, N.Y., lost her father at an early age, and was raised by loving parents, Ida and stepfather Norman Cogan, who adopted both Sylvia and her older sister Helen.
Sylvia graduated from high school in New York and attended Hunter College majoring in English and poetry. She then moved to Tucson to join her sister and parents with whom she was very close.
In Tucson she met her husband, Joe Levkowitz at a USO dance. They were married in 1946 and were together for 57 years until Joe passed away.
Sylvia is survived by her daughter Jan and her husband Craig, son Mark and his wife Mary, daughter Lisa and her husband Jedd, and grandchildren Adam, Jillian, Michael, Alex, and Nicole.
Sylvia was all about her family. She did not work outside the home, but when her parents needed help at their downtown Tucson jewelry or ice cream store, she was there for them. She also stepped in periodically when asked by one of her brothers-in-law to help out at their stores in Tucson. In later years, she was a periodic front desk person at her daughter Lisa’s Jewish dating service in San Diego. She was also her frequent creative collaborator.
At the age of 80 following the death of her husband and his brother 10 days later, she suddenly found herself the sole owner of the Chicago Music Store. Around that same time, she was diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer, a fight which she fought and won!
In short, she was an amazing positive role model for so many. She was deeply loved, and will be greatly missed.
