[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 157 (Friday, September 11, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E824]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              REMEMBERING THE LIFE OF INA RAE BURDMAN LEVY

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TIM RYAN

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 11, 2020

  Mr. RYAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Ina Rae 
Burdman Levy, of Sarasota, Florida, who passed away peacefully Sunday, 
Aug. 30, 2020, at the age of 91.
  Mrs. Levy was born July 22, 1929, to Harry and Doris Burdman, in 
Youngstown, Ohio. Each of her parents immigrated to the United States 
from Russia in the 1920s. Mrs. Levy was raised in Youngstown, and in 
1957, she married the love of her life, Rabbi Theodore S. Levy. 
Together for 48 beautiful years, they lived in Huntington, West 
Virginia, and Waterbury, Connecticut, and then settled with their 
family in Syracuse, New York, for 30 years. After Syracuse they spent 
10 years on Hilton Head Island, where Rabbi Levy died in 2004. Ina Rae 
moved to Sarasota, Florida and into the Sarasota Bay Club, where she 
enjoyed continued community work, new friends and being closer to her 
children and grandchildren.
  Mrs. Levy's life was full of educational pursuits, community 
involvement, philanthropic work, family and travel. Ina Rae Levy earned 
her Bachelor of Science degree in education in 1967 and a Master of 
Science degree in family therapy in 1972 from Syracuse University. Her 
relationship with Syracuse University continued throughout the 1970s 
while she worked as an assistant professor and assistant to the dean in 
the College of Human Development. Mrs. Levy was involved in innumerable 
local and worldwide organizations and received many awards as a result 
of her impact in those organizations. She was vice president of the New 
York State Federations of Women's Clubs and was the first president of 
the Women's Assembly of Syracuse Jewish Federation. Levy was also 
active in the National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods and was the 
president of her district. As a vice chair for the World Union for 
Progressive Judaism, she traveled extensively with her husband, 
visiting member Reform Congregations around the world. While in 
Syracuse, Mrs. Levy was also the president of the prestigious Upstate 
Medical Center. Levy once received the Hannah G. Solomon Award from the 
National Council of Jewish Women.
  Mrs. Levy was also tireless in her devotion to the equality and 
advancement of women. She was named by the Syracuse Post-Standard as 
the Woman of Achievement in Career Development in 1972 and again in 
1985 she was named the Overall Woman of Achievement. In addition, she 
was always involved in and passionate about Planned Parenthood and The 
League of Women Voters wherever she lived. One of Ina Rae's proudest 
achievements was being the only woman invited to participate in the 
first ordination of Rabbis since the Holocaust in Dresden, Germany.
  When Mrs. Levy moved to Sarasota, she once again became active in her 
synagogue, became an active member of the American Jewish Committee 
(AJC), chairing fundraising events in both Sarasota and Tampa. She 
always was concerned with the plight of Jews around the world. In 2005, 
Mrs. Levy was instrumental in the donation of a Holocaust Torah from a 
synagogue in Youngstown to a small synagogue in a small Russian 
community. She regretted not being able to attend the Torah dedication 
herself.
  Despite all of the accolades and achievements, foremost for Mrs. Levy 
was her love for her family. She had three younger brothers, Ronald, B. 
Richard and Kenneth Burdman, all who predeceased her. She leaves behind 
two sisters-in-law, Babette Burdman and Marsha Burdman and their 
families. In addition to her children, Seth (and wife, Alice), Cyndi 
and Jonathan (and wife, Karen), she leaves five grandchildren; and five 
great-grandchildren. They were all the joys of her life.
  I sincerely thank Mrs. Levy for her years of dedicated service and 
activism. She truly embodied the spirit and grit of the Mahoning 
Valley. I am proud to be friends with Mrs. Levy's son, Jonathan, and 
his wife, Karen. My deepest condolences go out to Mrs. Levy's entire 
family, and to all whose lives she touched.

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