Bob Levite: Legal Mind and Generous Soul

Some people seem to be born with the “I want to help you” gene. When people offering to assist bring specialized knowledge and/or skills to the table, their offers of assistance take on greater meaning. And when such people share their specialized knowledge with those who need it for literally decades—the cumulative impact can be simply extraordinary.

That is the case with Bob Levite, an attorney at the University of Massachusetts working on natural resources and environmental conservation programs. Over the last several decades, Bob has tirelessly given thousands of hours of assistance to hundreds of people and organizations. If someone had a worthy cause, but lacked the wherewithal—particularly the legal training—to handle a given situation on their own, he would inevitably offer to assist them.

Bob has always been well aware that his legal training (Boston College Law School, and Vermont Law School) is not something that many have, but virtually all need access to—at least on occasion, and especially in the land conservation field.  For this reason, he has donated his legal services in many instances—enabling many great ideas and initiatives to move to fruition that otherwise would not have. As an example of his pro bono work, Bob handled most of the filings, documentation, and framework necessary for the Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition (MLTC) to become incorporated as a recognized non-profit organization several years ago. That step, chock full of legal complexity, has propelled MLTC to a completely different level of service for the 150 or so land trusts operating in this state. Bob is very active in the Massachusetts land trust community and also chairs MLTC’s Attorney Panel.

His part time legal practice includes real estate, land protection and non-profit law. He has served as General Counsel to the former MA Division of Energy Resources and to the Vermont Water Resources Board. He has been legal counsel to and on the boards of a number of non-profit organizations, including the Cambridge Food Cooperative, Massachusetts Watershed Coalition, Ecological Landscaping Alliance, Littleton Conservation Trust, and Kestrel Land Trust (he now serves on the Board of Directors of Kestrel).   

We tip our caps to acknowledge Bob Levite as a member of our community that has given so tirelessly to help so many in so many ways.