Friends and Family of Joshua Levine Gather to Remember Him on the Winter Solstice

On Tuesday night, the friends and family of Joshua M. Levine gathered to remember him in a candlelight memorial with singing, poems and reflections, meant to coincide with the winter solstice. The ceremony was held at Amagansett where Levine worked and was on Nov. 30. He was 35.

Nearly 200 people, children to the elderly, stood around the applewood fires holding candles, unfazed by the frigid night air. There were somber moments but there was an overall atmosphere of hope, peace and celebration of the life of the man who had impacted those who gathered.

Scott Chaskey, the manager of Quail Hill Preserve, said a few words in reflection of Levine and read several poems including Beannacht (Blessing) by John O'Donohue. There was sighing in among the gathered when he read the line, "May there come across the waters, a path of yellow moonlight to bring you safely home."

Rather than a mournful dirge, they sang songs of optimism. "Go Tell it on the Mountain" with modified lyrics, "… that Josh in his life was loved."

Appropriate for the candlelight ceremony they also sang, "This Little Light of Mine," one improvised verse sang, "For Ezra and Willa, I'm gonna let it shine, " a message of consolation for his small children; Willa is 3 1/2 and Ezra is about 7 months. 

One very poignant moment came when Mryon Levine spoke and said that he had not sang for quite some time but he wanted to sing a song that reminded him of his son: "Summertime."

Levine also is survived by his wife of six years, Ann Jones Levine, his mother, Susan Levine, and his brother, Noah Levine, and a grandmother, Jean Levine.

In 2007, Levine left a job in real estate when he began volunteering at Quail Hill Farm. He ultimately became the market manager.