Our dear father, Harold “Babe” Lewis, Jr., passed away on Tuesday, February 4th, 2025. He is survived by his children Harold (Elizabeth) Lewis III, Richard (Suzanne) Lewis, Veronica Meyer, Mary (Joseph) Stalzer, and Margaret Lewis; nine grandchildren – Kathleen, Annie, Bridget, Owen, Liam, Andrew, Thomas, Claire, and Christopher; and three great-grandchildren – Isaac, Maren, and brand new baby boy Carson born on Feb 5th. He is predeceased by his beloved wife of 65 years, Dorothy Lewis.
Harold, born in New York City, was a devoted family man, successful business executive, veteran of the Korean War, and a person of deep faith who saw every problem as an opportunity. He was also devoted to his lifelong friends, his country, his community and the environment.
Throughout his life, Harold sought the responsibility of service and leadership, whether as a teen working on farms to help produce food during WWII, or as president of his fraternity Zeta Psi, as an officer in the Army, or volunteering in his community, parish churches, and Knights of Columbus. Never one to rest, he dedicated his retirement to several volunteer endeavors, from rescues at sea with the Auxiliary Coast Guard to being instrumental in the creation of the VNA Hospice House and Foundation in Vero Beach, FL. He was generous, lending a helping hand to countless people and charities. Among his many personal skills and gifts were his ability to draw, sing, take a car apart and put it back together, and look darn good doing all of it, being voted “looks best in a tux” by his classmates at Cornell University.
“Babe” was devoted to his parents, Harold and Marie, and mother-in-law Lillian. When they became aged, he and Dorothy had a double-extension built onto the house where the parents lived out their lives safely and in the comfort of family. He cherished his brother Jack and sister Marie, and adored his many nieces and nephews, extended family members, in-laws, and cherished friends.
In lieu of flowers, we would be grateful for donations to the VNA Hospice Foundation. https://foundation.vnatc.com/
Eternal rest grant unto our father, Harold. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen.
Thomas B Dobies Funeral Home - Tarpon Springs Chapel
All Saints Catholic Church
Calvary Catholic Cemetery
John Kiefer
February 6, 2025, 1:45 pm
May you rest in peace, Uncle Babe.
Brion Lewis
February 6, 2025, 10:08 pm
My heartfelt condolences to all the Lewis Family at this passing. I count myself lucky to have known Uncle Babe. During my youth he was a beacon of kindness, good humor and integrity. A role model for a life well lived. There will always be a special place in my heart for Aunt Dorothy and Uncle Babe.
Elizabeth Murphy
February 8, 2025, 2:53 am
Margaret, I am so sorry for your loss. Wishing you peace. 🙏🏻❤️ -Elizabeth Murphy
Kit Booth
February 8, 2025, 6:18 pm
I’m an ancient friend of Hal and Dorothy going back to our Cornell/Zeta Psi days in the 1950s. Hal and his family met me at a New York City airport one evening in Aiugiust of 1952 as I was on my way to Korea from my home in Plattsburgh, NY . I went to their Long Island home for dinner and an evening wait with them before they took me back to the airport for the next leg of my journey. The year before Hal had been an usher in my wedding to Sally Stevens in Plattsburgh.
We had met years later a couple of times in Florida but failed to connect our last year there in 2019. We sold our condo in 2021 and remained here in Plattsburgh where my wife of 70 years died in April of 2023. I have tried unsuccessfully several times in the past year to contact him using old phone numbers. I’m sorry to read that I am too late now and send my sincere sympathies to the family.
Kit Booth, Cornell and Zeta Psi, 1951
Mary Stalzer
February 9, 2025, 2:57 am
For anyone who might have read the post from Kit Booth, above, I want to give a little update. After a bit of sleuthing I was able to reach Mr. Booth this afternoon! We had a wonderful conversation and I was honored to make contact with one of my father’s cherished fraternity brothers. I texted him a picture of my father’s photo wall which features two amazing pictures of his Zeta Psi brothers. Having those pics on his wall always meant a lot to him. ❤️ so happy to have connected with Mr. Christopher “Kit” Booth!