Melvin Levy

Mel was born in Brooklawn, NJ, on February 2nd. His parents ran a grocery store on the first floor of their home. Mel joined the Army at 18 and served as a stevedore in Europe. Upon returning home, he enrolled at Temple University under the G.I. Bill. Mel played and coached basketball at Temple, later earning his Master's degree. He became a teacher and subsequently a guidance counselor. He married and had two daughters, Jacki and Beth.

Mel then switched careers and moved to Long Island, New York, where he worked for various grocery chains, including Food Fair, Bohack, and later Waldbaum's, where he became Executive Vice President. He remarried and became a stepdad to two children, Nancy and Stephen. They relocated to Florida, and he retired for a short time before working as a social worker for several years. After his wife passed away, he moved into an independent living community. Mel stopped driving a year ago, but he plays poker twice a week, exercises daily, and travels alone to visit his children across the country. He now has 12 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.