Melvin Levine

Melvin Levine, 92, of New York City and Mattituck, NY, passed away January 2, 2018.  Born May 5, 1925 to Samuel and Gertrude (Small) Levine, late of Colchester, Mel graduated from Bacon Academy in 1943.  Immediately after graduation, he enlisted and served as a nose gunner in B-24 bombers in the Army Air Corps 460th Bombardment Group, hitting bridges, viaducts, ammunition dumps, railroads, and other targets to aid the advance of Allied forces in northern Italy.  His plane was shot down and Mel was captured as a Prisoner of War in March, 1945.  After release, Mel returned to Connecticut, graduated from UCONN, and then moved to New York where he had a successful career as a mechanical engineer in missile systems and medical devices. Among his career highlights were multiple patents and working directly with Wernher von Braun on guidance systems for the Redstone and Jupiter rocket programs.  He loved and excelled at tennis, skiing in the US and Europe, and making gin and tonics for his wife Lillian at their homes in Manhattan, Fire Island, and Mattituck.  He was predeceased by his loving wife, Lillian (Rowan) and his brothers Herbert and Leon.  He is survived by his sisters-in-law, Marie (Herbert) Levine and Anita (Leon) Levine, and multiple generations of nieces and nephews who will miss him terribly.  Interment will be in Congregation Ahavath Achim Cemetery, with full military honors, on January 7, 2018.  Donations in his memory may be made to Jewish War Veterans of the USA, 1811 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009.  Care of arrangements has been entrusted to the Aurora-McCarthy Funeral Home of Colchester.