Abbeville Boys & Girls Club’s Levine passes away

When someone asked Roland Levine how long he had been involved with the Abbeville Boys & Girls Club, he always had one answer.
“Most of my life,” he would say.
That life has been cut too short. Levine, 37, died early Sunday, leaving behind family and friends to remember a man who became a face of the local club.
Brian Ford, chief operating officer for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana, worked with Levine in Abbeville for many years.
“Roland grew up in this club,” Levine said. “He graduated high school and went off to college. Then he came back and worked as a part-time staffer.”
Levine eventually became a full-time staff member. He served as program director at the Rodney Unit for nine years. In May 2014, Levine took over as club director, replacing Ford, who moved to the administration office in Lafayette.
“It was a no-brainer,” Ford said of the club’s decision to name Levine as director. “We represent kids who need us. We help them through different areas of their life. We get them through graduation and help them have some kind of plan after graduation. That’s exactly what Roland did.
“Then he decided to come back and serve the community through the Boys & Girls Club, just as the club had helped him.”
Levine did it all with a smile on his face, a smile that always proved infectious.
“Roland was an amazing young man who never failed to bring a smile to my face,” Arlene Armentor posted on Facebook. “I was so proud to know he was leading the Vermilion Unit. I was blessed to know him. My thoughts, prayers and heart are with the BGC of Acadiana as we mourn his loss.
“God bless his family.”
A post on the Boys & Girls Club of Acadiana’s Facebook page expressed how great the loss will be.
“The Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana has a hole in its heart with the loss of Roland that may never be quite filled. We will enjoy the memories of the good times we shared together and look forward to the day when we reunite in that Big Club in the sky!!!”
Ford said Monday morning that the plan is to keep the club operating as best it can. Counselors from local schools were on hand Monday afternoon to help.
“I will be over there quit a bit to help ease any transition,” Ford said. “We’ll see how it goes over the next couple of weeks. We want to try to keep somewhat of a normal routine for the kids.
“We want everyone to be as comfortable as possible, but at the same time, we will have professionals on hand to answer any questions.”
Levine himself was the routine for the club for so many years.
“He had been there so long,” Ford said, “that kids he went to the club with are now sending their children there.
“He was kind of seeing a whole second generation.”