Jeffrey William Lever

Jeffrey William Lever, 72, of 688 Park Avenue, Auburn, Maine died Tuesday October 14, 2025 at The Hospice House in Auburn, Maine. Born On October 3, 1953 in Lewiston, Maine, he was the son of the late George William Lever and Alice Roy Lever. He attended local schools and graduated from Lewiston High School in 1972. He attended the University of Southern Maine earning an Associate of Science degree from the College of Business Administration May of 1985. Before attending the University of Southern Maine (USM), Jeff was the owner/manager of the Martindale Country Club restaurant and lounge. While attending USM, Jeff was a community service coordinator for ALPHA I – Adaptive Living for Physically Handicapped Adults. His principal duty as a service coordinator was to find and make contact with handicapped people, helping them to become independent. Jeff was ideally suited for this role, having sustained spinal cord injuries in 1978 and again in 1982, which rendered him an incomplete quadriplegic. He was an avid advocate of bringing community and public awareness of the needs for removing barriers to public buildings and places of employment thus improving the accessibility for the disabled. He also advocated for improvements to the accessibility of public transportation as well as the development of appropriate housing for those with disabilities. Jeff has been quoted for saying: “Our bodies disable us; society handicaps us.” Despite being wheelchair dependent, Jeff was determined to remain physically active. He participated in the 1982 New England Wheelchair Games in Boston, Massachusetts winning 2 gold medals for swimming in the 25 meter freestyle and the 25 meter breaststroke. His times qualified him to participate in the 26th National Wheelchair Games in Marshall, Minnesota where he won 2 silver medals again in the 25 meter freestyle and 25 meter breaststroke events. After graduating from USM, Jeff worked for NYNEX as a service representative in the residential and business accounts offices until 1989. In 1984, while waiting to board a flight departing from Boston’s Logan Airport for a Spring Break trip to Antigua Jeff spotted Tammy Simard and proclaimed “I’m gonna marry that girl! “They eloped 3 months later. The couple proved the few skeptics wrong who said the marriage would never last as they celebrated a 41st wedding anniversary this past July 14th. Jeff left Maine taking residence in Naples, Florida from 1989 – 1993. There he loved spending time with his retired parents. He also took pleasure being near the gulf fishing off the Naples Beach pier as well as backwater fishing with friends and family. He also entertained his many visiting nieces and nephews making several road trips to Disney World. He left Florida and moved to Chandler, Arizona in 1993. In the 27 years span living in AZ, Jeff was fond of family gatherings especially the yearly escapes from the desert heat to the cool breezes at Mission Beach in San Diego. He spent much time socializing with the many friends he accumulated during his time in AZ. He and his service dog McGuire were fixtures at a few “watering holes” in Chandler, or as Jeff preferred to call them, “his office”. He enjoyed attending several sporting events and though he was a season ticket holder to the Arizona Cardinals remained a diehard New England Patriots fan. Jeff also found or rather his service dog McGuire found him in 2010 through an organization in AZ known as Power Paws Assistance Dogs, Inc. Jeff volunteered at Power Paws where he served for a brief time as a board member. He promoted public awareness of their services and participated in fund raising events. He also spoke at the Power Paws Summer Camps talking to kids in attendance about disabilities. After the death of Jeff’s sister Lynn in 2021, he decided: “It’s time to go home.” He and Tammy returned to Maine taking fulltime residence in Auburn June of 2023. Jeff is survived by his wife Tammy Simard, His brothers Roy Lever and wife Deborah (Davis) Lever, Scot Lever and his wife Jennifer (Villani) Lever, sister Jaime (Lever) Bolduc and husband Tom Bolduc, as well as several nieces and nephews who fondly refer to Jeff as their Funcle (fun Uncle) or Uncle Bucks. He was predeceased by his parents and sisters Sandra Mynahan and Lynn Lenhert. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to your charity of choice. Jeff also shared a request to play the song “Keep Me In Your Heart” performed by Warren Zevon. Have a beverage of choice and listen to the song in memory of Jeff. A quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson: “The reward of a thing well done is to have done it.” Rest in peace Jeffrey Lever as you have earned that reward by exemplifying how to live life with such intensity and richness despite adversity! A celebration of Jeff’s life well lived is tentatively scheduled for July 18,2026.

Jeffrey William Lever

October 3, 1953 - October 14, 2025