Neil Louis Levine, 68, passed away suddenly in his home in Albany on January 4, 2025.  Neil grew up in Niskayuna, graduating from Niskayuna High School in 1974 and going on to graduate from Amherst College, cum laude, and Georgetown University Law Center. He began his legal career at Hughes Hubbard & Reed in New York City and subsequently served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. Neil returned with his young family to his former Niskayuna neighborhood in 1989 and began what became a distinguished career at Whiteman Osterman & Hanna where he remained for nearly three decades, having served as a member of the firm’s executive committee and chair of the litigation department.

Neil was committed to public service throughout his career, handling pro bono cases, serving as a special prosecutor in Schenectady County, and being an active member of the commercial and federal litigation sections of the New York State Bar Association. He served as President of the Board of the Schenectady Museum (now miSci), served on the boards of the Albany Chamber of Commerce and Capital Region Sponsor- A -Scholar, Inc., was a member of the Niskayuna Planning and Zoning Board, and a supporter of Proctors Theatre’s capital campaign.  One of his most rewarding experiences was advancing the economic development of Schenectady through his work as counsel to the Metroplex Development Authority in its first days and onward.

Neil’s great joys were athletics and the Adirondacks, often combining the two. His sanctuaries were gyms, courts, fields, rivers, roads, mountains, golf courses, and most recently pickle ball courts. His greatest love was basketball. He had fond memories of his senior year on Niskayuna’s 1974 Suburban Council undefeated championship team. He continued to play varsity at Amherst, intramural at Georgetown, in the NYC Lawyer’s League, and in untold numbers of pick-up games in Washington, D.C., NYC’s Riverside Park, and the Schenectady JCC.  More recently, he coached kids with developmental disabilities.

Neil eagerly shared his love and knowledge of sport with his children Emily and Matthew from their toddler years through their teens, coaching each on multiple basketball teams.  Though his family practice sessions could be quite demanding, Em and Matt will always value Neil’s dedication to shaping their strong sense of self through sport, discovering the values of discipline, commitment, perseverance, learning about leadership, respect, fear, courage, and humility.

Neil is survived by his father, Judge Howard A. Levine (Rosemary Faulkner), his daughter Emily (Lexie) Barza, his son Matthew (Nora) Levine, his grandchildren Olivia, Ari, Emmett, and Talya, his brother James (Carolyn) Levine, his brother-in-law David Sussman (Jane Johnson), his nieces and nephews Jane, Rebecca, Noah, Ari, and Jesse, his Aunt Judy Lempert and cousins Elizabeth, Heidi, Nina, and Katie and their families, his dear cousin Phil Levine, and his caring friends Peter and Nancy Cornell. Neil’s mother, Barbara Levine, his much-cherished sister Justice Ruth Sussman, his Uncle Neil Lempert and his cousin David predeceased him.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, January 8th at 11:00 am at Congregation Agudat Achim, 2117 Union St. in Schenectady. Burial will follow at Agudat Achim Cemetery in Rotterdam.

Shiva hours will be from 6-8 pm on Wednesday evening January 8th at the synagogue with a service at 7:15 pm.

If you wish to make donations in Neil’s memory, consider the ADK Club and, in light of Neil’s emotional health struggles, the Mental Health Association in New York State.