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In memory of

Alexander Levy

Scenery Hill, PA, USA

September 22, 1943 - January 3, 2021

Sep 22, 1943 - Jan 3, 2021

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Alexander Levy of Scenery Hill, Pennsylvania, passed away from COVID-19 on January 3rd, 2021, at UPMC St. Margaret Hospital in Aspinwall, Pennsylvania. He was 77 years old. His wife and four children were by his side at the time of his death.

Alex was born in Gary, Indiana on September 22nd, 1943. He was the son of Saul and Elizabeth Levy, who had recently immigrated from Lithuania and Russia, respectively. He had one older sister, Marina Levy. The family lived in Indiana and Ohio before settling in Mount Lebanon, Pennsylvania, outside of Pittsburgh, while he was in high school.

Alex received his undergraduate degree from Oberlin College. He lived and worked in New York City before returning to Pittsburgh where he earned his graduate degree in clinical psychology from The University of Pittsburgh.

In 1971 Alex was one of the original founders of Alpha House, a substance use disorder treatment center. Alpha House was groundbreaking in its community-based and whole person approach to the treatment of people struggling with addiction, and it still serves the region today.

Alex always fought for the disenfranchised and the oppressed. He was a social advocate throughout his life, from his time as a youth marching in the civil rights movement to instilling in his children the importance of speaking up for those whose voices are silenced.

Alex’s true calling was clinical psychology. He ran an independent practice for over 40 years in Pittsburgh, where he helped countless patients. He was called on regularly by the City of Pittsburgh to perform clinical testing, and he served as an expert witness in numerous court cases.

Alex is the author of The Orphaned Adult: Understanding And Coping With Grief And Change After The Death Of Our Parents, published by Perseus Books in 1999, which has been translated into multiple languages and is widely read around the world.

Alex did not just help patients in his practice. He was a surrogate or second father to many of his children’s friends. He was an invaluable resource for the people in his life, children and adults alike, for guidance, advice, wonderful stories, and famously bad jokes.

In the 1970’s Alex had his first two children, Amy and Peter, with Mariel Tewksbury. Their marriage ended, but, unlike most divorced fathers of his time, Alex was adamant he would stay a full-time parent and arranged for equal shared custody. He raised his children in the East Liberty neighborhood of Pittsburgh.

In 1983 Alex was contacted by his cousin Riva Levy, who lives in Israel. Most of Alex’s relatives had perished in the Holocaust, and he was thrilled to discover he had family left. A Holocaust survivor, Riva was able to share stories Alex never knew of their family’s history. Riva regularly traveled to Pittsburgh, and his relationship with her was one of the most important parts of his life.

On September 13th, 1997, Alex married the love of his life, Jeanne Marie Laskas. The couple shared many adventures together and moved to a small farm in Scenery Hill, Pennsylvania. Alex thrived in the country and found a love for farming he never knew lived inside him. Most importantly, Alex and Jeanne Marie were blessed with two children, Anna and Sasha.

Family was everything to Alex. With Jeanne Marie, Riva, and his four children, a man who spent his early life feeling alone in the world, ended up with a large and loving family. It was the most essential and joyful part of his life.

Alex is survived by his wife, Jeanne Marie Laskas, his children, Amy, Peter, Anna, and Sasha, his grandchildren, Samantha and Rowan, and his cousins, Riva and Dori. He is also survived by the entire Laskas family, who adopted him as one of their own and loved him dearly.

The family will hold a memorial service this spring once it is safe for people to gather. They ask that those who wish to be notified of the service please share share your email on this page.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that friends plant a tree in Alex’s memory or send a donation to The American Red Cross, an organization supporting families dealing with tragedies caused by COVID-19. The American Red Cross is an institution that was close to Alex’s heart. He believed in their on-the-ground mission and volunteered with them for many years, serving as a counselor on the scene to help first responders and volunteers deal with the trauma they experienced in their work.

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