By Laura Lane
The Merrick boy was the victim of an undetected heart aliment.
Immediately, Jill formed Forever 9: the Robbie Levine Foundation with her husband, Craig, an oral surgeon, to raise awareness of the need for and increase the number of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in places where children play organized sports.
Nassau County Legislator Dave Denenberg, a Democrat from Merrick, recently honored Jill with the Women Trailblazers in the New Millennium Award. Each year, legislators choose one woman in their district for the award, which is given to someone who has made a difference in the lives of others.
"I named Jill as a trailblazer because every day she exemplifies and personifies someone who is not just involved in every aspect of her community, but has dedicated part of her life to helping others," Denenberg said. "She is very special, taking a personal tragedy and making it a triumph for the entire community. To turn tragedy into triumph is second to none."
Levine said she was pleased by the honor because she believes it will further her cause. "It was a very nice honor and I was surprised," she said. "My biography was printed up in a booklet and given to people who attended [the award ceremony], so it gave us more publicity. I think this opened up what we're doing to a whole new group of people."
The Robbie Levine Foundation has donated 50 AEDs to date and has raised more than $150,000. Jill Levine works many hours in her home office, answering hundreds of e-mails and phone calls from parents and athletic groups seeking information or assistance from the foundation. At the same time, she remains as active a parent as ever, raising three young children.
Susan Kay has known Jill for many years. The two have children of similar ages, and together they belong to organizations like Hadassah, which also honored Levine recently.
Kay describes her friend as generous, focused and remarkable. "She pulled herself together, sunk herself into a cause after the death of her son; I don't know if I could have done that," said Kay. "Jill doesn't look back, except in her own private space. She wants very much to make sure that what happened to her won't happen to anyone else."
Comments about this story? Llane@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 236.
