I woke up this morning with nothing but sadness in my heart. Yesterday we lost close a very close friend and a hell of a surfcaster. A fixture in the Montauk surf for last few decades ,Mark Levy never was and never will be your prototypical Montauk Regular.
He was as stubborn as a mule, he had a stamina of a twenty year old and a piercing stare that would make you want to go fish twenty yards away from him. But to us who knew him, he was the most loyal friend, a fishing partner and man who loved life. He liked fishing on the sandy beaches of Nassau County but he LOVED Montauk until his last breath. There was no place on earth where he was more at piece, more in his element then when he planted his feet on a slimy rocks on the Montauk North Side.
I still have a vision in my head of a hard nor’easters under the Bluffs, with a driving rain that pierced your soul. A huge menacing waves that were ready to swallow you whole if you took a step too close to the water. And there was Mark, standing on his rock, always the same one, wiping his glasses away in a downpour so he can make another cast. Like the world did not exist around him, as if he was all alone, he paid no attention to hundreds of casters to his side. Just cast, reel, wipe glasses, lean , cast , hook up, and on and on… Oh , how he loved those storms on the north side of the Light, how he loved tossing Super Strike Poppers in the middle of the night and catching fish while everyone else just scratched their heads.
May the Montauk Light be an internal beacon that guides him in afterlife. I am certain that Mark is already sharpening his hooks in Heaven, waiting for another tide to flush all the stripers from their Heavenly hiding spot.
He was a long serving member of High Hill Striper Club who was actively involved in the club and was one of the most ardent proponents of conservation and catch and release. I am not sure if I have ever seen him keep a fish of any kind and I knew and fished with him for almost two decades. He was not the type to tell others what to do with their fish but you’d see what he was thinking on his face. He wore a heart on his sleeve, there was no gray area , it was either black or white. Or in case of his beloved Super Strike darters, yellow.
Man sure could fish that darter, but to me, I will always remember that it was him who uncovered the magic of the Little Neck Poppers at night, and not willingly either. You had to earn his respect. I will be eternally grateful that I did.
To all his friends, family and fishing buddies, sincerest condolences on your loss from all of us at the Surfcaster’s Journal.
World has lost a hell of a surfcaster yesterday..they just don’t make them like Mark anymore..
Rest in peace buddy …and catch em up in heaven.
rest in peace mark, wich i got to know you better
↓Condolence to the family and friends
↓RIP
GOD BLESS YOU AND FAMILY ….
↓I’m sorry to hear of his passing. Our condolences and prayers are with his family, friends and brothers in the surf.
↓Just got home from the shop and read this. I am very sorry for the loss. God Bless you Mark.
↓Very Sorry to hear of Mark’s passing. May he rest in peace.
Steve
↓R.I.P. Mark!!!
↓Im sure he can hear you Zeno, and I am sure he would be honored by your writing of him. Thank you for sharing story of an amazing man and surfcaster.
↓You’ll be missed. BJ
↓My condolences . RIP .
↓RIP Mark. Gonna miss the B S sessions at the cottages and on North Bar ….
↓Mark my friend and fishing partner, rest in peace, I miss you already. I will always make a cast for you and think of you.
↓I never knew him but wish I did. Beautiful story. Thanks for sharing
↓may God guide his journey…….
↓Beautiful eulogy, Zeno. May he rest in peace. Mark sounds every bit like a fisherman among fishermen.
↓My condolences, RIP Mark!
↓So sorry for your loss Zeno. My condolences to his family.
↓Goodbye fellow fisherman, may you always be on the right side of the tide.
↓Rest in Peace Mark…Thanks for all your help.
↓R.I.P Mark…….
↓Couldn’t of said it any better. Every time I’m fishing the bluffs I’ll be think of him. I’m gonna miss him a lot. My prayers go out to his family rest In peace Mark
↓Sincere condolences to Family and Friends.
↓never met him but your writings make me wish i had, he sounds alot like my old fishing partner/mentor, my dad, fdny sid leopold, who lived to fight fires and to fish. may you both rip and if there’s any water up there, i know what you’re doing…… larry
↓Hi Everyone,
↓I just happened to come upon this website and found all of these beautiful wrtings about Mark. I want to thank you, although sad, your words have left memories that he shared with you eternally with me. Mark, as you all know loved to fish. It was his passion, and althought I have not met some of you, I feel I know you because Mark always shared stories with me. I’m grateful that I never complained or made an issue when he wanted to fish because I know that was his peace and joy.
Thank you again for sharing. All my best, Ramona (big “A”)