Elinor S. “Lynne” Leavitt, 92, died peacefully at her home in Lenox on Monday, April 29, 2024. Lynne was born on June 27, 1932 in Springfield, Mass., to the late Calvert and Lucille Weinstein Stein. She attended Classical High School and was a 1949 graduate.
After high school, Lynne attended Smith College and earned her bachelor’s degree in 1953. She began her career as a public school teacher and was a big believer in the power of quality public education. She was head of the Longmeadow School Committee and, in her later years, was an interior designer. She was very passionate and fought hard for women, civil, and gay rights. One of her proudest achievements was introducing the A Better Chance Program into the Longmeadow public school system. She also started the Art Goes to School Program and presented famous art in both the Springfield and Longmeadow public schools. She was active at both Sinai Temple in Springfield and, later in life, at Hevreh in the Berkshires, where she had a bat mitzvah at the age of 75.
Mrs. Leavitt married Dr. Aaron M. Leavitt in 1953 in Springfield. He predeceased her on May 22, 2020.
Elinor is survived by her children, Mark (Taryn) of New York City, Robert (Donna Fisher) of Longmeadow, Mass., Joyce Leavitt (Grant Fine) of Orinda, Calif., and Peter (Marie) of Falmouth, Maine; 13 grandchildren, Alec, Perry, Samuel, Benjamin, Lucille, Breton (Samantha), Eric (Jennifer), Todd, Nicolette (Shaun Willkenfield), Coleman, Isabel, Jacob, and James; and five great-grandchildren.
A graveside service will be held on Thursday, May 2, 2024, at 10:30 a.m., in Sinai Memorial Park in Springfield, Mass. There will be no calling hours. Memorial donations in Lynne’s memory may be made to either Jacob’s Pillow or Hevreh, both in care of the Roche Funeral Home, 120 Main Street, Lenox, MA 01240. To share memories and stories, please visit the funeral home’s website.
