Farewell to Mario Levi: Laid to rest in Istanbul

Author and communication instructor Mario Levi passed away yesterday (January 31) in Istanbul.

Levi, who passed away at the age of 67, was laid to rest today following a ceremony held at the Jewish Cemetery in Acıbadem, Istanbul.

The funeral for Levi, known for his works such as "İstanbul Bir Masaldı" (Istanbul Was a Fairy Tale), "En Güzel Aşk Hikayemiz" (Our Most Beautiful Love Story), "Bir Şehre Gidememek" (Not Being Able to Go to a City), and "Lunapark Kapandı" (The Amusement Park Closed), was attended by his wife Ece Erdoğuş Levi, as well as numerous authors from literary circles, family members, and friends.

SECURITY MEASURES TAKEN

According to a report by Bianet, police took extensive security measures around the cemetery prior to the funeral ceremony.

Wreaths were sent to the ceremony by numerous individuals and institutions, most notably the Chief Rabbinate of Turkey, Or-Ahayim Hospital, Şalom Newspaper, Mishne Torah, the İzmir Jewish Community Foundation, Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Ersoy, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, the Rectorate of Yeditepe University, the Turkish Publishers Association, the Republican People's Party (CHP) Istanbul Provincial Presidency, and his publisher, Everest Yayınları.

WHO IS MARIO LEVI?

The Jewish-origin author Levi was born in 1957. He graduated from Saint Michel French High School in 1975 and from the Department of French and Romance Philology at Istanbul University in 1980. He wrote his first short story in 1975.

After 1984, he wrote for many publications including Hokka magazine, Şalom, Cumhuriyet Newspaper, Cumhuriyet Dergi, Stüdyo İmge, Gösteri, Milliyet Sanat, Argos, and Oksijen.

His first book, "Jacques Brel: Bir Yalnız Adam" (Jacques Brel: A Lonely Man), was published in 1986. His first short story collection, "Bir Şehre Gidememek" (Not Being Able to Go to a City), published in 1990, won the Haldun Taner Short Story Award that same year.

He finished his book titled "İstanbul Bir Masaldı" (Istanbul Was a Fairy Tale), which he began in 1993, in six years and published it in 1999. With this work, he won the Yunus Nadi Novel Award in 2000.

In addition to writing, Mario Levi worked in various fields including French teaching, importing, journalism, radio broadcasting, and copywriting. He also taught Creative Writing courses to those dedicated to the craft in writing workshops.

MARIO LEVI'S WORKS

1986 Bir Yalnız Adam: Jacques Brel

1990 Bir Şehre Gidememek

1991 Madam Floridis Dönmeyebilir

1992 En Güzel Aşk Hikâyemiz

1999 İstanbul Bir Masaldı

2005 Lunapark Kapandı

2005 Bir Yaz Yağmuruydu

2009 Karanlık Çökerken Neredeydiniz?

2010 İçimdeki İstanbul Fotoğrafları

2013 Size Pandispanya Yaptım

2015 Bu Oyunda Gitmek Vardı

2016 “Bir Cümlelik Aşklar “

2019 Gördüklerimiz Görmediklerimiz -1 Bir Cuma Rüzgarı Kadıköy

2020 Gördüklerimiz Göremediklerimiz 2 Bu Salı ve Her Salı – Şişli

2022 Teğet Geçen Hayatlar 1 – Ayçiçekleri Her Gece Bir Yalnızlığa Bakar