Brophy Elementary Librarian Terry Levin Has Died

Brophy Elementary School librarian Terry S. (Karas) Levin, of Framingham died Tuesday. Levin had been battling acute myelogenic leukemia.

Earlier this year, as her doctor's said post chemotherapy she would need a bone marrow transplant. Acute myelogenic leukemia is cancer of the blood and bone marrow.

"I know many of you rallied to her side and were tested," wrote neighbor and Brophy Elementary parent Tanya Lipp to their neighborhood association. "She was able to receive a transplant, but unfortunately she recently had a turn for the worse in her health. Her husband David and her family were able to be by her bedside in her last days."

For a dozen years, Levin has been working at Brophy elementary.

"It's a huge loss for our school," said Brophy Principal Frank Rothwell.

"Terry was PTO President at Brophy and her kids came through the school," said Rothwell. "She was a wonderful librarian here. She cared a lot about the kids and cared about the school. We will all miss her deeply and dearly."

"When library time was cut in half for the children, Terry was there to organize the librarians and speak to the School Committee at the televised meeting and she wrote powerful, well written letters to the local newspapers," said Lipp.

"Terry Levin was a very dedicated and devoted woman to Brophy, her neighborhood school, and to all Framingham School Libraries," said Brophy PTO President Wendy Chan. "I will remember the stories she shared with me from her many years at Brophy as a parent, PTO President and then as a librarian. Her spirit and love for books will continue to live on at Brophy. A true inspiration to all the students! We will miss her dearly!"

"As the Brophy librarian (and Hemenway Elementary librarian for a period of time) she read to so many of our own children over the years. She was happy to help kids like mine select a "just right" book and enabled the kids to get excited about reading," said Lipp. "My boys were always happy to bring home a book to keep as a prize that she gave them for remembering to turn in books on time."

"I got to know Terry when I started volunteering in the library for both of my children's classes," said Cindi Muller, a parent of two middle school students, who attended Brophy. "She did a wonderful job of choosing books each week for the read-aloud that channeled into whatever the theme was for the week. She taught the children and the volunteer-parents just how to choose the "just right for me" book every week."

Debbie Izen, who has has three daughters, one still at Brophy and two whom attended Brophy, said she will remember how welcoming Levin was to her as a parent.

"Till this day my girls love to read because of the experience she gave them. She was a friend, as well as co-worker. She will be sorely missed," said Izen.

Levin also was a teacher at Temple Beth Am religious school.

The Levins lived in Framingham for almost four decades.

"When I think of our neighborhood, I think of Terry," said Lipp. "Our neighborhood literally wouldn't look the same without Terry's advocacy and we wouldn't have such a strong foundation for our neighborhood community."

Lipp said "When I received the folders of old newsletters, meeting notes and other documents for our association years ago, I was amazed at Terry's dedication in leading the neighborhood and keeping the communication going. There are months and years of newsletters where Terry kept up on all of the childrens' birthdays and often other achievements of theirs."

Levin was the mother of Jeremy and his wife Keith, Andy and his wife Stacy, and Jason.

She was the adoring nanny of Ashley, Kyle, and Amber, reads her obituary. She was the loving daughter of Gloria Karas of Newton and sister of Gail McNair and Steven Karas.

Services are at Schlossberg-Solomon Memorial Chapel, 824 Washington St., in Canton on Thursday, Nov. 15 at noon. Interment will follow at Sharon Memorial Park.

Memorial observances at her residence are Thursday until 9 p.m., Friday noon to 5 p.m., Saturday 7-9 p.m., Sunday 2-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m.; Monday and Tuesday at the home of Steven Karas 2-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m.

Donations may be made in Levin's name to BeTheMatch.org or Dana Farber Cancer Institute.