“The state of mind which enables a man to do work of this kind... is akin to that of the religious worshipper or the lover; the daily effort comes from no deliberate intention or program, but straight from the heart.”
~Albert Einstein
Obituary
On March 29, 2024, William “Chip” Levy breathed his last breath, succumbing to an aggressive metastatic cancer. Levy was born in St. Louis Missouri on March 28, 1947, oldest son of Lester H. Levy and Ina Mae (Aronberg) Levy. He earned his B.A. in Psychology from Princeton University in 1969 and swam on the varsity swim team. He earned his Ph.D. at the University of California, Irvine, School of Biological Sciences in 1973 and then served as a research fellow in the Department of Psychology at Harvard until 1974. Subsequently, he dedicated over 46 years of his life doing research and teaching at University of Virginia as a professor of neurosurgery. Levy was so deeply committed to his pursuit of knowledge and sharing it that he continued to work right up to the last day of his life.
Dr. Levy’s academic pursuits centered on understanding the neural mechanisms of cognition, including synaptic plasticity, computational theories of brain function, and constraint-based interpretations of neural information processing. The International Neural Network Society honored him with the prestigious Hebb Award and his groundbreaking research has left an indelible mark on the field of neuroscience.
"Chip was the most single-minded scientist that I've ever known and probably the broadest thinker. He was intellectually honest, kind, and generous without any agenda beyond learning as much as he could about the brain," wrote Dr. Costa Colbert, a former Ph.D. student and a cherished friend who spent many transformative years studying under and collaborating with Levy.
Another long time collaborator Dr. Robert Baxter, shared a relationship spanning over 35 years, a testament to their enduring professional partnership and deep-rooted friendship. "I treasure the time we spent poring over new (and old) neuroscience research articles, discussing how energy consumption plays a significant role in brain development and function, and investigating how computation and communication are accomplished in the brain," wrote Baxter.
Also of note in Chip’s life was his longtime partner and collaborator Nancy Desmond, Ph. D., who spent many years living and collaborating with him.
Profound admiration for Levy's unwavering dedication to unraveling the complexities of the brain is echoed by his peers and colleagues. His impact as a researcher, mentor, and individual of strength and dedication continues to resonate within the scientific community, inspiring future generations to delve deeper into the mysteries of neuroscience. Reflecting on his remarkable life and enduring legacy, we are reminded of his immeasurable contributions and the profound impact he has had on all who had the privilege of knowing him. He will be missed by loved ones, friends, colleagues, students, and support staff alike. He had a giving heart and was gracious to others. When not pursuing his academic activities he could be found playing with his dogs, hiking in the woods, or tinkering with his classic and race cars. His last dog was aptly named Darwin. He will be missed.
Although Levy’s loving wife Nancy Jane Levy died in 2010, Levy is survived by his devoted brother, Thomas Charles Levy.
A memorial to honor Professor Levy will be held on Saturday, May 4 at the Colonnade Club of UVA from 11:30am - 1:30pm. Friends, family, and colleagues are welcome. Information included below.
revised 4/18/24
Videos
Memory wall
Service
Please Note: There is no parking at the Colonnade Club. Guest parking is available at the Central Grounds Parking Garage at 400 Emmet Street. Hourly parking may be paid via the Park Mobile app at https://parking.virginia.edu/parkmobile or machines located on garage level 2 and 3 accept credit cards. (Guests must know their license plate number to register and pay) We suggest arriving 30 minutes early to park and find your way to the venue. Parking attendants will be onsite and available. Campus map and walking directions link below.
VIEWING LIVE STREAM /OR RECORDING:
VIEWING LIVE STREAM: Note link below. Passcode (for virtual event viewing): levy
RECORDING: The recording will be available after the memorial service. Please check back for the link.
Donate
• Hospice of the Piedmont: https://hopva.org/hospice-house/
• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: https://www.mskcc.org
• Charlottesville Albemarle SPCA : https://caspca.org