• Levin cremation sphere and pyramid
• Missy West       
• West Memorials

It is not often memorialists and monument builders find new and innovative ways to help their clients, but the Levin cremation monument came to me in an effortless way.

   “Eternally overbooked and consequently in a position of power,” Mr. Levin was the most celebrated and in-demand hair colorists and stylist in NYC — and one of the most talkative.” His partner said that Ron believed pyramids were built to bring “pyramid power” to the sharpening of weapons (and razors), so that Egypt could continue to conquer and expand their empire and power. He was an unyielding abstract art collector.

A little background on my inspiration. Over the years we have cremated our dogs and I design the urns for their ashes. Our sweet Blu Komohana West was the best beloved blue heeler. Our children wanted a part of Blu’s ashes for remembrance. Years ago, I went to an art gallery showing and remembered the glass art of Michael Trimpol of Little Hot River Glass Studio. Along with his magnificent blown glass work, he specialized in creating solid glass memorial spheres with cremains. We ordered two small spheres that held Blu’s cremains from Michael. It is very meaningful for them to have a part of their friend in such a unique way.

The sphere on the Levin headstone holds a portion of Mr. Levin’s ashes. We wanted the glass artist to place as many of Mr. Levin’s favorite colors into the sphere, with a list of nine colors we were asked to select three. Since this was the largest solid glass ball he had created, the addition of more color to the glass along with the cremation ashes may slow the process of making a perfectly round sphere. 

When I ordered the black granite monument, I asked for a marble sphere to be made so I could see how this would all fit together as a finished piece.  I sent an example of a rubber band ball to help my carver to understand how I wanted the sphere to sit inside the hole, with directions to bevel the inside edge of the hole.  The sphere is pinned and epoxied into a hole. 

Ronald Levin’s monument is in Woodlawn Cemetery , West Palm Beach, FL.