Senator Carl Levin (D-Michigan, 1979 — 2015) died yesterday. Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist issued this statement:
Senator Levin was a giant whose power and dedication was felt throughout our state. Michiganders trusted Senator Levin to get the job done, which is why they continued to send him back to Washington, D.C as our state’s longest-serving senator. And throughout all of those years, Senator Levin never backed down from putting Michigan families first. There’s not a single Michigander who hasn’t benefited from the policies and programs that Senator Levin helped to usher through Congress. His presence will be greatly missed by the untold lives that he touched, especially the young leaders like me who he continually encouraged and supported. My heart is with his family and all of the Michiganders across the state who are mourning this tremendous loss. Senator Levin set the path for all of us to continue his great work.
The Levin Center at the Wayne State University Law School issued a longer statement, which I now quote in full:
07/29/2021 - With great sadness and heavy hearts, the Levin Family and Levin Center at Wayne Law announce the passing of Senator Carl Levin – a dearly beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle, and life-long public servant.
Over six decades, Carl fought with compassion to extend and ensure the American promise to all. Nurtured and inspired throughout his early years growing up in a loving family in Detroit, he was drawn to the social issues of the times and sought ways to contribute to the betterment of his community. He had a penchant for seeing the world through the eyes of people who struggled against injustice and was called to hold our democratic institutions accountable to everyone – first as a student activist, then as a young defense attorney, Detroit City Council member, and U.S. Senator. Although he rose in office and seniority, he never lost his humility or his uniquely human touch. Nor was his integrity ever questioned – particularly among constituents and colleagues who might disagree with him on the issues.
Whether he was chairing a hearing on critical national security issues or working on behalf of his home state, he believed that collaboration and compromise served our common purpose better than partisanship and political brinkmanship. He was a clarion voice for a military strong enough to defend our nation and uphold American values. He was a tireless advocate for the positive role that government can play in the lives of the American people and a relentless watchdog ensuring that government programs meet their commitments. He stood up for American workers and families and against powerful institutions that put profit over people. In whatever he did, he defended the uniquely American proposition that all of us, no matter the color of our skin, how we worship, whom we love, the privilege of our parentage, or the size of our bank accounts, are created equal.
His legacy extends to every corner of Michigan, including the preservation of the Sleeping Bear Dunes and the Upper Peninsula’s mining and maritime history; cleaner Great Lakes and Michigan streams; a beautiful Detroit Riverwalk; and an American auto industry that is stronger for his tireless support.
For those who were lucky enough to be a part of his early work in Detroit, his decades in the Senate, and beyond, he was an inspirational leader and so much more. He will be remembered for his relentless intellect and work ethic, his humility, his humor, and his strength of character.
We are all devastated by his loss. But we are filled with gratitude for all of the support that Carl received throughout his extraordinary life and career, enabling him to touch so many people and accomplish so much good. We will treasure our memories of him as a loving family member, friend, colleague, and public servant.
There will be a private funeral. Information about a public memorial honoring Senator Levin will be forthcoming. For additional information, please visit Senator Levin's memorial page. If you wish to send a tribute or well wishes to Senator Levin's family by email, please use Levin.Family@wayne.edu.
I first met Senator Levin when I was a photographer at the Wayne State University student newspaper The South End, though I didn’t really get to talk to him (not because he was stuck up or anything, it just wasn’t my place in the moment).
The big assignment was to get a picture of him touring the College of Engineering. I think that was back in 2004, back when bipartisanship seemed somewhat attainable.
Levin toured the Smart Systems and Integrated Microsystems (SSIM) lab, where Prof. Gregory Auner was working on some important breast cancer detection equipment. Levin also met with Dean Ralph Kummler, a man of integrity who was a little annoyed at Auner’s rock star status but knew well enough to let Auner manage the project as he saw fit.
I believe Auner is still at work on SSIM, but from an administrative point of view, he’s at the School of Medicine now. That’s a whole other story. Levin was probably unaware of the office politics, but I do know for certain he recognized the value Auner and his team brought to the university and to Michigan.
I think it was a few months later that I saw Levin at a branch of Michigan First Credit Union by himself, without an entourage. I talked to him, he was just a regular guy running an errand.
I was his constituent, but I don’t recall writing him a letter in his capacity as a senator. President George W. Bush (R, 2001 — 2009) was bad enough to make Levin nostalgic for Nixon, but not so bad that I felt the need to say anything to Levin about Bush. Back then I felt I could ignore politics for days at a time.
If Levin had run for re-election in 2014, he almost would have gotten my vote. Republicans haven’t run anyone worthwhile for the seat. But Levin wisely chose to retire. Then-Rep. Gary Peters (D) ran for Levin’s seat and won.
Levin continued to be involved with politics after leaving the Senate, focusing on legislative oversight. He established the Levin Center at the Wayne State University Law School, and the Carl Levin Award for Effective Oversight. I believe the award will continue (at least the nomination page is still up).
And of course people were curious about Levin’s take on current events. I thought of asking Levin if Donald Trump made him nostalgic for President George W. Bush. At the Detroit Field of Dreams groundbreaking on April 13, 2016, my Uncle Jim told Levin a Trump joke. Levin barely chuckled. “Trump is a joke,” was Levin’s reply.
It sure would have been nice if Trump had remained a punchline, and not, you know, an existential threat to democracy. Levin saw Republicans help Trump avoid accountability at both impeachments. Now he won’t see whether the new select commission help bring Trump to justice for his part in the January 6 terrorist attack on the U. S. Capitol.
Levin died yesterday of lung cancer, he was diagnosed four years ago. He will be missed.
