David Levy (1936-2014)
David L. Levy was a pioneer in the field of children's rights, particularly within the area of family law. His lifelong dedication to giving children a voice amidst the turmoil of divorce transformed the way we view post-separation parenting in the United States. Levy's founding of the Children's Rights Council (CRC) was a watershed moment; this organization relentlessly championed legislative reforms favoring joint custody, mediation, and equal consideration for both parents in the complex and painful process of family breakdown.
Levy's work was not born of abstract theorizing, but rather stemmed from his own lived experiences. As a divorced father, he faced the harsh reality of limited access to his children. This common yet deeply unjust practice spurred him into action. Understanding that countless other fathers and children endured similar pain, Levy founded the CRC in 1985, dedicating over two decades to leading the organization.
The cornerstone of Levy's philosophy was the unwavering belief that every child deserves the love and nurturing of both parents. In an era when maternal custody was overwhelmingly favored, he exposed the damage this caused children who were robbed of a full relationship with their fathers. Levy's arguments were not against mothers, but rather centered on prioritizing the needs and well-being of the children themselves.
Through lobbying, legal advocacy, and public education, Levy and the CRC shifted the landscape of child custody law. State by state, they campaigned for family law reform to require courts to presume that both parents were equally capable caregivers unless strong evidence suggested otherwise. Levy also understood the value of mediation, seeing it as a means for parents to find common ground and avoid the destructive battles of traditional litigation.
Levy wrote and published numerous articles and books, both fiction and nonfiction. In the area of children’s rights and shared parenting, his prominent works include “Lending a Hand One Child at a Time: The children’s rights Council’s Child Access and Transfer Centers” (The American Journal of Family Therapy 37:396–413, 2009) and The Best Parent is Both Parents (Hampton Roads Publishing, 1998).
For his groundbreaking work promoting children’s rights, Levy received numerous honors. In 2009, he was named one of the “25 Most Influential People in our Children’s Lives” by Children’s Health magazine. In 2000, the National Child Support Office presented him with their Lifelong Achievement Award for his “untiring efforts on behalf of the children of America.” He also received the Distinguished Service to Children Award from Parents without Partners International, the Legislative Achievement Award from the National Parents’ Day Coalition (both in 1996), and the Prince George’s County Civic Association Award (1989).
David L. Levy's legacy extends far beyond the specific laws he helped to change. He fundamentally altered the way we perceive children of divorced parents, establishing the view of children as individuals with rights and needs in the context of divorce, not as prizes to be fought over by warring parents. He made it socially acceptable for fathers to not just love their children, but to fight for the opportunity to be fully present in their lives.
