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Our brief look back at notable Central Iowans who died in 2007 should have included Maddie Levitt, who reigned over the local fund-raising and philanthropic scene for many years.

Levitt, who passed away in November, helped raise more than $320 million for Drake University. The sum included more than $5 million donated by Levitt herself, even though she attended Ohio State University, not Drake.

In the last year of her life, Levitt gave at least $2 million to the Greater Des Moines Community Foundation.

The many awards bestowed on Levitt included the Outstanding Voluntary Service to Community and Country Award from the United Way of America, the Nation’s Outstanding Philanthropist award from the National Society of Fund Raising Executives and the Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service from the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.

Levitt’s grandfather, Jacob Levitt, founded State Finance Co. in 1897. Her father changed the company into Dial Financial Services, and it was sold to Norwest Corp. in 1982. Norwest acquired Wells Fargo & Co. in 1997 and took the Wells Fargo name.