Byers Levy

From an email we received from Byers' son:

I just wanted to write in and let you all know how touched my family was
last night to see the ghost bike that had been placed around Lake
Hollingsworth in my dad's memory.  We had over 200 cyclists show up to a
memorial ride last night and everyone was stopping there for pictures and
to say good bye.  It couldn't have been more perfect of an evening or a
beautiful tribute to amazing man and even better father. 

More about Byers' life from his obituary: 

Byers
was born in Lake City, South Carolina on November 27th, 1953. He grew
up in Orlando and graduated from Oakridge High School as a Track Star
winning many awards for his running ability. He continued his education
at FTU in Orlando where he was a member of TKE Fraternity and graduated
with a degree in finance in 1976. He worked for his step-father at Toy
King from 1966-1987 beginning as a teen in the warehouse and through
hard work earned his way to becoming President of the company. He then
moved to the Lakeland area and was innovative in sales & marketing
for 20 years as the sales manager/ partner at Schalamar Creek Golf &
Country Club which led to a sales and marketing position with the
national home builder Palm Harbor Homes. Presently, he was the owner of
Florida Gate Masters in Lakeland and J&J Sanitation. Byers was
always involved in anything to do with fitness. Running, cycling,
basketball etc.-he enjoyed them all but his passion was for cycling. He
was training for a 150 mile charity bike ride to celebrate his upcoming
60th birthday. He loved his family, his friends, his work and cycling.

Byers was preceded in death by his father, Sam Levy and his mother,
Vonnie Lee Hart. Byers is survived by his loving wife of 21 years,
Rowena Palis Levy, his brothers Spencer Phelps and Coit Yarborough, his
children Sean, Jason, Rachel and Kacie Levy and his two grand-dogs,
Rowdy and Louis.

Byers had an amazing gift for making people laugh.
He could also talk to anyone he had just met as though they had been
friends for years. He will be greatly missed by all whose lives he had
touched. He had such an amazingly optimistic outlook on life that was
contagious to anyone around and his undeniable positive energy will live
on through the people he knew and loved.

The
family has started a charity in his memory to provide unprivileged
children with their first bicycle. In lieu of flowers, please donate to
Byers' Bikes C/O United Aid Foundation, 305 7th Avenue, Suite 1101, New
York, New York 10001.

Excerpted from The Ledger

Lake Hollingsworth Bike Crash Was Drunk

Cyclists ride around Lake Hollingsworth on Monday during the Byers Levy Memorial Ride in Lakeland.

RICK RUNION | THE LEDGER

Byers Levy, 59, was riding
around the lake Sept. 8 when a Toyota Camry driven by Ronald Akins, 74,
hit him after swerving off the east side of the road then veering back
across and into the opposite lane, according to Lakeland police.

Levy died at Lakeland Regional Medical Center.

Police officials said last week that investigators were looking into whether alcohol was involved in the accident.

The letter, from the law firm of Lilly, O'Toole & Brown, in Lakeland, is dated Sept. 12.

"Ronald
Akins was highly intoxicated at the time he departed Cleveland Heights
Golf Course (and therefore at the time of the collision), as a direct
result of which the collision occurred and Byers Levy was killed," the
letter says.