Oren Livnat is running the 2026 NYC Marathon
Celebrating the lives of Josh Levinson and Abi Kronenberg
And raising money for the Armellino Center of Excellence for Williams Syndrome (ACE-WS), which Josh and fam have worked with to improve the lives of all people with Williams syndrome and their families.
To know them was to love them
In the past year, our family, and large community beyond, lost two of its brightest lights: Josh Levinson—my first first cousin, heart of the extended Levinson clan, and Detroit legend—and Abi Kronenberg—my bro-in-law, devoted husband, adoring father of three, and Uncle in Chief of our Livnat-Kronenberg family.
Despite living two very different lives, Josh and Abi were uncannily similar in their joy for life, gregariousness, affection, and ability to attract people to them and together. Both had the exceptional ability to turn strangers into devoted friends. I don’t mean if you asked someone in their orbit that you’d get a “yeah, that’s a good guy”… No, anyone who spent any time with them would have a really deep, hand-on-the-chest feeling of warmth just thinking of them. Both had a purity of spirit that made us feel happy and lucky to be around them, and simultaneously, feel self-awareness of our flaws: our ingratitude, judgment, impatience, complaining, inhibitions, or prejudice.
At Josh and Abi’s funerals I looked around the overflowing rooms and was struck dumb how almost everyone seemed to take real custody of the loss. There weren’t many there just out of courtesy to the family. Rather, it was like everyone was suffering the passing of their own family or best friend… like everyone there, somehow, truly felt like a main character in Josh or Abi's stories. Truly extraordinary!
Unlike Josh, I won't have my own giant billboard or be fondly remembered by several generations and thousands of acquaintances. Unlike Abi, I know my co-workers won’t feel compelled to be at my bedside to the very, very end. I know I can’t make everyone feel like a main character in an important story. That’s okay, I I’m no Joshy or Abi. All I can do is honor their memories. To start, this race is for them.
The Armellino Center of Excellence for Williams Syndrome (ACE-WS) at Penn Medicine and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). The ACE-WS mission is to build a model for comprehensive care, research, and education that fully supports the needs and improves the lives of all people with WS and their families throughout the lifespan.
I'm running with Team CHOP, and all funds going to ACE-WS, which will help:
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Propel Innovative Research: Funds would help ACE-WS conduct research that characterizes and targets WS-specific health problems, including mental and behavioral health and biological changes.
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Bolster Clinical Care Excellence: Contributions help strengthen comprehensive, multidisciplinary patient care tailored to the complex needs of children, teens, and adults with WS.
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Support Family and Community Members: Funding would provide educational offerings and tools for families with the goal of reducing barriers to care.
THE Cause
IMPROVE THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WITH WILLIAMS SYNDROME AND THEIR FAMILIES
Josh was diagnosed in infancy with Williams Syndrome (WS), a rare genetic condition causing developmental delays, cognitive and motor challenges, and significant medical problems.
Josh was never defined by these obstacles. In fact, his most distinguishing traits were his infectious affability, witticisms, affection, musicality, and phenomenal memory. That said, Josh and his family, and all families with William Syndrome, have faced significant lifelong challenges and demands, requiring specialized support, resources, and community. The Levinson family have been at the heart of the WS community for decades, since the inception of the Williams Syndrome Association.
