Although Levinson had feared all his life that he would die of a heart attack, and was extremely careful with his diet in an attempt to avoid this fate, it was a brain tumour which lead to his death. Rota writes:
Kahit Levinson nagkaroon na-alala ang lahat ng kanyang buhay na siya ay mamamatay ng isang atake sa puso, at noon ay balisang-ingat sa kanyang pagkain sa isang pagtatangka upang maiwasan ang mga ito tadhana, ito ay isang utak tumor na humantong sa kanyang kamatayan. Rota magsusulat: