Dr. Seymour "Sey" Herbert Levitt Obituary (1928 - 2017)

Seymour “Sey” Herbert Levitt, MD, D.Sc, age 89 of Northridge, California, longtime resident of Edina, Minnesota died on September 30, 2017. Born in Chicago, IL to Margaret & Nathan Levitt, he spent his youth growing up with his parents, brother, Alvin, and a large family of cousins, aunts and uncles and grandparents in Denver, Colorado. Dr. Levitt graduated cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from the University of Colorado in 1950. He attended medical school at the University of Colorado, where he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society and received his medical degree in 1954. Dr. Levitt completed his internship in Internal Medicine at Philadelphia General Hospital in 1954 and then served as a Captain in the U.S. Army in Internal Medicine in Germany from 1955- 1957. Subsequently, he completed his Residencies at the University of California; San Francisco in Internal Medicine and Radiology, followed by an American Cancer Society Clinical Fellowship, 1959-1960. Dr. Levitt’s rising career then took him to the University of Michigan, Radiation Therapy from 1961-1962; the University of Rochester Medical Center from 1962 -1963; the University of Oklahoma Medical Center, Chief of Division of Radiation Therapy from 1963 – 1966; the Medical College of Virginia, Chairman, Division of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Professor of Radiology, Richmond, Virginia, 1966 -1970. Dr. Levitt then became Professor and Head and Clinical Chief, Department of Therapeutic Radiology, University of Minnesota Hospital,1970 – 1999; during which time he did what he loved - caring for his patients and heading academic research. In 1999 he "retired" and became Professor Emeritus, continuing to see patients and write research papers until 87 years old, driving to clinics in Maple Grove and Wyoming, MN in all weather conditions; nothing stopped him. He loved caring for his patients. He also served Foreign Adjunct Professor at the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden, 2002 – 2014. Dr. Levitt was an international leader in cancer treatment and a pioneer in the holistic approach to healing. He significantly advanced the field of radiation oncology, particularly in the treatment of breast and prostate cancer. He actively participated in numerous medical societies including the American Board of Radiology, President of the American Society of Therapeutic Radiation Oncology, President of the American Radium Society, Director of the American Cancer Society, and President of the Radiologic Society of North America. He was a Fellow American College of Radiology, Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Radiologists, England; Honorary Professor of Xian Medical University, Xian, China; the Carlson International Biomedical Research Scholar - Stockholm, Sweden; Honorary Member in the Deutsche Rontgengesellschaft -Wiesbaden, Germany; Honorary Member of the European Congress of Radiology; Honorary Member of the German Radiation Oncology Society; Member of the International Working Group on Radiotherapy Stockholm, Sweden. He received the American Radium Society, Gold Medal; received the ASTRO Gold Medal; Minnesota State Radiological Society, Distinguished Service Award; University of Colorado American College of Radiology Gold Medal Recipient of University of Colorado Honorary Degree, Doctor of Science, and Honorary Member Gilbert Fletcher Society, Gold Medal Recipient Gold Medal Radiological Society of North America Recipient. Dr. Levitt is preceded in death by his beloved son, Scott H. Levitt. He is survived by his many family members who love him dearly: wife, Solveig Levitt: daughters, Mary Jeanne Levitt, and Jennifer Levitt M.D.; daughter-in-law, Christine Levitt; stepchildren, Sonja Johnson (Eric Johnson) and Eric Premack (Lori Varlotta); grandchildren, Sean Levitt, Anna Johnson and Christina Johnson; brother and special sister-in-law, Alvin & Rosanne Levitt; and many cherished cousins, nieces, and nephews. The family offers its sincere gratitude to the staff of Comfort Care for their friendship and loving care during the last two years.Funeral service 2:00 p.m. SUNDAY, October 8, 2017 at TEMPLE ISRAEL, 2323 Fremont Ave. So., Minneapolis. Memorials preferred to the American Cancer Society or the University of Minnesota Medical School, Department of Radiation Oncology. Family and friends will gather 7:00 p.m. Sunday at the Hyatt Regency, 1300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis.