Emanuel “Manny” Levy

Emanuel Arthur Victor “Manny” Levy

Birth: November 17, 1909 in Victoria, B.C.

Death: May 19, 1983 (age 73) in Surrey, B.C.

Biography:
By Diana Levy Lofstrom (daughter)

Emanuel Victor Arthur [Manny] was born in Victoria at 1316 Government Street to Amelia Violet Hilbert Haggart and Arthur Levy. He was raised in a non-Jewish household in a Spanish-style home at 2667 Empire Street built by his father (Arthur Levy) in 1913. His sister, Virginia, was born one year later and as children climbed in the big Garry oaks. They had a nurse and chauffeur. The Levy family owned race horses and like nomads, traveled mainly the West Coast of the United States following the races.

Manny’s life in Victoria included him telling stories about winning many foot races at school. He attributed this to his mother cutting his hair like Little Lord Fauntroy and he was chased home regularly. He went to Victoria High School and in 1927 took part in ‘Loud Sock & tie day’.

As an adult, Manny made a living playing poker in Victoria when the chiefs of fire and police came to play upstairs of his Grandfather’s restaurant. He worked in the family restaurants like Levy’s Oyster Bar, Arthur’s Sandwich Shoppe [1308 Government Street] and Poodle Dog.

In 1928 Eva, ever the Jewish grandmother, brought a ‘rich girl from Germany’ for him to marry, but he met Victoria-born Dorothy Quaintance Leonard. He fell for her and they married in 1937 in Vancouver, where they settled.

Gravesite Details: Row G – Plot 3
There is a marker stone for Manny on this plot, however, his body is not buried in the cemetery. Manny’s mother wasn’t Jewish, and like his father (also memorialized at this plot), Manny’s body was cremated.

Parents:
Amelia Violet Hilbert Haggart Levy (1880-1942)
Arthur Levy (1885-1961)

Spouse:
Dorothy Quaintance Leonard Levy

Child:
Diana Eva Levy

Siblings:
Benjamin Levy (1886-1905)
Victor Levy (1891-1939)