APMA News - November/December 2021 - 18

feel lucky to have been afforded the privilege of working with
him, learning from him, and being his friend. He is very
much missed.
Lloyd Smith, DPM
Past President
I was an APMA board member from 1994 to 2006 and collaborated
on many issues with Jay during that time. I was also
chair of the Educational Enhancement Project [in the late
1990s], and Jay's insights into the educational process were
influential and instrumental.
Jay and I furthered our relationship after I retired from the
board and served Massachusetts as chief delegate to the
APMA HOD and a member of the Resolutions Committee.
Jay is detailed and professional. He is articulate and has broad
institutional knowledge. He isn't a DPM, but his commitment
surpassed the need for the degree. He could always be trusted
as a confidante on even the most sensitive issues.
I often came to Jay with a problem that needed a solution.
At times, we disagreed on the path forward, but we always
created a process that would satisfy all the internal APMA
safeguards and reached a reasonable conclusion.
To Jay: APMA and everyone in podiatry will miss your
spirit and quiet, assured confidence and knowledge. I personally
will miss our sparring and differences of opinion
when issues in dispute needed resolution. For you, I am
sure your days at APMA will provide many warm and rewarding
memories. For me, Jay, I will miss you. I hope
your days are filled with the warmth and love of your family
and friends.
Frank Spinosa, DPM
Past President
A monkey? Really? Okay, I'd better start at the beginning.
I was assigned, for better or worse, some extremely challenging
and often controversial tasks for APMA over the
years. They included chairing Vision 2015, the Executive
Director Search Committee, the Affiliated Task Force and
Review Committee, and the Blue Ribbon Panel on Certifying
Boards. I have always said that any success I achieved
with these issues has been due to the assistance of APMA
staff. Jay, however, took this support to a higher level, and
as he has done with most individuals, brought out the best
in me.
Jay and I spent countless hours working and discussing the
above-mentioned issues, by email, phone, and in person.
When you spend so much time with someone one-on-one,
conversation inevitably includes personal topics. For two
seemingly dissimilar individuals, we sure do have a lot in
common. Only children. Italian-American heritage. Strongwilled
mothers being placed in assisted living facilities-oy,
the stories. Accordion lessons during childhood. Yeah, that's
where the monkey comes in. Italian-American kids playing
the accordion? All we needed were monkeys. Clearly we were
the cool kids in school!
18 APMA News November/December 2021
Our chats included our home improvement activities.
We debated whose projects were more manly, like cleaning
gutters, chopping wood, or finding the elusive wall stud
for the shelf that inevitably crashed to the floor. Often the
discussions devolved into challenges as to how much
blood was shed and how many Band-Aids used following
these failed endeavors. We would never be featured on
" This Old House. "
Our last in-person meeting was a dinner at Ruth's Chris.
One of us ordered the petit filet, and the other a cowboy
ribeye. Then came the pandemic and moves to Pennsylvania
and New Mexico that left us thousands of miles apart. How
rare it is for me to have someone to discuss life issues with.
I never had a brother, but if I could choose one, it would be
Jay Levrio.
Jay, I look forward to continuing our long-distance conversations.
Thank you for all you've done for our profession and
for me personally.
Kathleen Stone, DPM
Past President
During my years on the Board of Trustees, the best thing
about Jay was that whenever there would be a cloudy recollection
of history, he knew exactly what happened and when
it happened. His influence went so far with us because he
knew the history, when a resolution was moved, when the
bylaws changed. That's one of the hardest things about Jay's
retirement: We've lost a historian. His influence was always
behind the scenes. He never wanted any credit or praise, but
you always knew he was there, whether at a board meeting or
HOD, and if you had a question or needed something, he
would stop and answer you.
He taught me very early on during my time on the board to
pause for a minute before I jumped into an answer, and I took
that back to practice with me.
The other part I love about Jay is his wicked sense of humor.
He is always so serious and by the book, but sometimes
he would come out with something, and we would just fall
out laughing.
I want to impart to Jay our deep appreciation and love
for him.
Ross Taubman, DPM
Past President
It is simply difficult to imagine our association without Jay.
Few people will understand the breadth of knowledge,
professionalism, skill, and integrity that Jay brought on
our behalf. His guidance, steadiness, and knowledge have
been a dependable resource that we have relied upon on a
daily basis.
I personally had the privilege to work directly with Jay
throughout my years on the APMA BOT. We worked on a
myriad of projects: the Administrative Procedures, the Bylaws,
the Code of Ethics, to name a few. He provided the
board and me with wisdom to make the best and most
APMA News - November/December 2021

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