Mark Crosby Lavitt

Mark Crosby Lavitt, 79, of Coventry, CT, passed away peacefully on March 1, 2021, in Manchester, CT.

Mark was born in Hartford, CT to Solomon and Alyce Lavitt on February 7, 1942. He graduated from Conard High School in West Hartford and then attended The University of Connecticut. 

Mark is survived by his sister, Maryanne Ludgin of Coventry.  His is also survived by his three children, Jonathan Lavitt of Ashford, daughter Shari and her husband Michael Barrette and their two daughters Angela and Annalee of Coventry, Uri and his wife Kristin Lavitt and their two sons Jacob and Joshua of Woodstock.  

A private graveside funeral service will be held at the Ellington Cemetery on March 4 with Rabbi Richard Plavin, Emeritus, of Beth Shalom B’nai Israel officiating. There will also be a live stream of the service that you can view on the Blumenstein Funerals website. Shiva will be held privately due to Covid. Blumenstein Funerals will be handling the funeral arrangements.

Memorial donations may be made to F. Ruth and S.I. Kummer Fund at Beth Shalom B’Nai Israel 400 Middle Turnpike East, Manchester, Connecticut 06040 or you can go to the website at https://www.myshul.org/payment.php . This fund supports outreach education for Jews and non-Jews wanting to learn more about Judaism. 

Mark was a resident of Coventry most of his adult life.  He was devoted to the town and served on several committees through the years, including the Economic Development Commission. On these committees he helped implement many positive changes while preserving Coventry’s history.  He was also very involved with the Jewish Community Center in West Hartford and served on the Jewish Film Festival committee. Mark’s history as a land developer and experienced builder began as a young adult working with his father Sol and blossomed from there.  Currently he had been working to build a condominium complex, located in a beautiful, wooded area in Coventry Mark’s love for Ellington started as a child growing up on the Lavitt family farm. Up until this past summer, he helped every year with the tobacco harvest with relatives on the Cohen farm in Ellington.  Another favorite spot Mark loved was the Ellington Cemetery. He visited there every week and knew each headstone in the Jewish section so it is fitting that he will be in a place that he loved so much. 

Mark’s passions included landscaping; love of the Jewish religion and Israel; love of American, European & Middle Eastern history; love of UCONN basketball (attending many games over the last 30 years with loved ones); and love of eating out, especially at Reins Deli. He became proficient in learning to speak, read and write Yiddish and Hebrew. He adored his Akita’s however, he held dearest to his heart spending time with his closest friends & family including his children and grandchildren, whenever he possibly could. They were the loves of his life.

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