Mary M. Levy (1941–2024)
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(Reprinted from the Washington Post.)
Mary M. Levy, a longtime DC resident and DC public schools advocate, died suddenly at home on July 31, 2024, from complications of uterine cancer. She leaves behind her beloved husband of 57 years, Edward P. Levy, who had been caring for her during this difficult period; siblings Roger, Laura, and Paul Mansnerus; daughters Dina S. Levy and Rachel A. Levy; son-in-law Cedar Reilly Riener; and grandchildren Caleb, Liam, and Amelie Riener, and Nora and Seth Levy.
Mary, born on December 16, 1941, in Chicago, held a BA in linguistics from the University of Wisconsin, a PhD in linguistics from the University of Michigan and a JD from George Washington University Law School.
“A former civil rights lawyer, Mary Levy studied public school budgets for more than 40 years — making her one of the most trusted experts on education finance in the city. ”
She studied DC public education for over 40 years, analyzing staffing, budgets and expenditures, and monitoring DC Public Schools (DCPS) for parent advocacy and school support organizations. As director of the Public Education Reform Project at the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights & Urban Affairs from 1990 to 2009, she played a significant role in developing the District of Columbia’s public school funding system, formulating many major reform plans, as well as working with the DC State Education Office. She was a frequent source of information on DCPS for the media, government officials, educators, parents, and non-profit, business, and civic groups. Previously, in private practice with Rauh, Lichtman, Levy & Turner, her work consisted principally of litigation in school finance, labor law, civil rights, and civil liberties.
Mary loved her children and grandchildren deeply. In her spare time, she was a voracious reader (in several different languages) and puzzle aficionado; a world traveler; a devotee of classical music, opera, and the Washington Nationals; and a skilled cook, seamstress, knitter, and gardener.
The family will hold a memorial service sometime after Labor Day, details of which will be provided at a later time.
*“Longtime DC school budget guru, education advocate Mary Levy dies at 82,” Washington Post news article, August 7, 2024.