In Memoriam
WPI lost a great friend with the passing of Peter H. Levine, MD, on Dec. 18, 2009. Levine was a dedicated supporter of the Institute and served as a trustee for nearly two decades.
Levine's career and civic contributions spanned many decades and numerous areas of accomplishment. He was known as a physician, a popular teacher, a nationally acclaimed medical researcher, and a healthcare executive. Levine played a key role in a series of mergers that led to the creation of UMass Memorial Healthcare, preserving many medical jobs in the area and laying the foundation for one of the key contributors to the regional economy. He served as the organization's first CEO, overseeing seven hospitals, 12,000 employees, and an annual operating budget of $1.4 billion. Upon Levine's retirement as CEO in 2002, the UMass board of trustees honored his service and contributions as a clinician and research hematologist by naming a new 60,000-square-foot facility the Peter H. Levine Cancer Center.
Levine became a WPI trustee in 1990, and served on six committees over his tenure as a trustee. He was also a member of the President's Circle and the Presidential Advisory Council. It was Dr. Levine who encouraged President Dennis D. Berkey to apply to lead Worcester Polytechnic Institute. "We became very good friends," said Berkey. "He was always an excellent mentor and counselor. Once in a while, a person comes along who's an exemplar for how you want to live your life. Peter was one of those people."
To name just a few of Dr. Levine's professional honors, he was a five-time recipient of the Excellence in Clinical Education Award at the UMass Medical School, a three-time winner of the House Officer Award for Distinguished Medical Educator at Worcester Memorial Hospital, and two-time winner of the Distinguished Teacher Award at Tufts Medical School. In recent years, Levine served as a senior advisor at BDC Advisors in Boston, a leading healthcare consulting firm, where he helped forge new and productive relationships between hospital systems and their medical staffs.
In addition to his significant career achievements, Levine was a generous community leader, and an effective advocate for state and national healthcare issues. In 2001 he received the Citizen of the Year Award from the Worcester Rotary Club, an honor that recognized his many years of service to such organizations as Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives, United Way of Central Massachusetts, American Red Cross, Worcester County Music Association, and Worcester Business Development Association. He was also active with the National Hemophilia Foundation, Massachusetts Hospital Association, and Governor's Commission on Healthcare Reform.
Perhaps Levine will be remembered most for his personal role as a mentor to many at WPI, in the medical profession, and in the Worcester community. His character, wisdom, good humor, and integrity were infectious, and he took the time to guide others in their careers and community service.
Dr. Levine leaves his wife, Catherine, three sons, and five grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Greater Worcester Community Foundation (370 Main Street, Suite 650, Worcester, MA 01608) or the First Unitarian Church (90 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01608).
Photo by Dan Vaillancourt; used with the permission of Greater Worcester Community Foundation.
