OBITUARY Irvin Louis Levy June 23, 1929 – September 7, 2018 Irvin Louis Levy was born in Dallas, Texas on June 23, 1929 and passed away Friday, September 7, 2018. He was preceded in death by his parents Ruth Wolf Levy and Milton P. Levy Sr., his first wife Meryl Palan Levy, and brothers Lester A. Levy and Milton P. Levy Jr. Irvin was a dynamic business and civic leader but he will be remembered foremost as a loving and generous husband, father, grandfather, friend and mentor. He was a graduate of Highland Park High School in Dallas and attended the University of Texas in Austin for two years and then graduated from Southern Methodist University.
Following the sudden death of his father in 1946, Irvin returned to Dallas to finish college while joining his older brothers Lester and Milton in working for National Disinfectant Company, the chemical products firm founded by their father in 1919. The company grew rapidly under the guidance of the Levy brothers; they changed the name to National Chemsearch; listed the company on the New York Stock Exchange; eventually became NCH Corporation in the late 1970’s; and was included on the Fortune 500 list of the largest public companies for several years. Now privately held, NCH operates manufacturing and sales facilities in over 55 countries around the world.
Irvin was elected President of the company in 1965 and served as Chairman of the Board in recent years. Irvin’s dedication to the Dallas community and to the success of NCH Corporation was recognized with honors and awards including: The Southern Methodist University Entrepreneur of the Year Award; the Patrick E. Haggerty Business Leadership Award from the University of Dallas; the Texas Arts Award; and the TACA Silver Cup Award. Irvin’s contributions to the arts and the Dallas community was best exemplified by his dedication to the Dallas Museum of Art.
From 1978 to 1995, Irvin served first as Chairman and then as President of the Board of Trustees. During his tenure, a city bond election was passed which allowed the Museum to move from Fair Park to its new location in downtown Dallas, thereby creating the beginning of a major new Arts District. The move to the museum’s new building precipitated the acquisition of the Wendy and Emery Reves collection of impressionist paintings and decorative arts, for which an additional wing of the museum was constructed.
Irvin also chaired the Dallas Commission on International Cultural Affairs and the Municipal Center Arts Committee of Dallas, which led to the acquisition of the Henry Moore sculpture which is prominently featured in front of City Hall Plaza in downtown Dallas. Irvin served in various capacities on the boards of Republic Bank and Nations Bank, Southern Methodist University, UT Southwestern Medical Foundation, Dallas Home for Jewish Aged, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Theater Center, Dallas County Community College District, American Federation of Arts in New York, and as a member of the Collectors Committee of the National Gallery of Art in Washington and the International Council of the Tate Gallery in London. Irvin is survived by his wife Joan Schnitzer Levy, whom he married in 1996, sons Robert Milton Levy and his spouse Michael Clifford, John Irvin Levy and his wife Carol, grandchildren Katherine, Allen, Anne and Michael, sister-in-law Adrienne Palan Gold, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Joan’s children Kenneth Schnitzer, Douglas Schnitzer and his wife Melissa and grandchildren, Lauren, Douglas, Johnathan, Robert and Stephen, also survive him. Honorary Pallbearers are Kenneth Schnitzer, Doug Schnitzer, Walter Levy, Lester Levy, Max Tonkon, John Gold, Jerry Szor, Robert Rosen, and Keith Perry. The family wishes to express their deep appreciation and gratitude for the loving and tender care provided by Dr. Dirk Frater, Carrie Jackson, Angela Lee, Arnie Mercado, Delores Berry, Girmachew Haile, Isaac Henri, Lavonne Davenport, and Sherline Green.
The family thanks the long time assistance provided by Lori Moore, Sherryl Carter, Ross Hallan, Wanda Jackson, Ramy Mercado, and Keith Perry. A Memorial service will be held in Dallas at Temple Emanu-El on Thursday, September 13 at 11:30 in the morning, with a lunch reception following. The Levy family deeply appreciates the tremendous outpouring of love and support they have received.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations may be made to the Irvin L. Levy Fund at The Dallas Museum of Art or The Southwestern Medical Foundation.
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