Mimi Levitt, who along with her husband Mortimer founded the Levitt Foundation, has died in her home in New York at age 97.
The foundation announced the news in an email Tuesday morning.
Levitt's support for the arts reached across the country throughout her lifetime, and in 2012 her patronage led to the creation of Denver's Levitt Pavilion. The venue, which received a $250,000 grant from the Levitt Foundation, provides a wealth of free concerts in addition to its ticketed shows. It opened in Ruby Hill Park in 2017 and quickly became a community staple.
"Mimi's visionary leadership helped bring underutilized parks across the country back to life through the gift of free music," said Levitt Denver Executive Director, Chris Zacher, who started the nonprofit Friends of Levitt Pavilion Denver in 2012. "Mimi will be greatly missed, though her legacy lives on in the work of Levitt Foundation."
There are six other Levitt Pavilions across the U.S. and more are on the way, including venues in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Dayton, Ohio.
Levitt and her husband also supported the Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Mercy College, Museum of Television and Radio, New York City Opera, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Central Park Conservancy, The Joyce Theater, New Victory Theater, Lincoln Center's Film Society, Hunter College, Music Center of Los Angeles, School of American Ballet, American Red Cross and Young Concert Artists.
You can read more about Mimi Levitt's life and legacy here.
