Miami DJ Battling Mystery Illness Dies
MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- A well-known Miami DJ batting a mysterious infection has died.
Mark Leventhal died Tuesday afternoon.
In a Facebook post by his sister, Amy Leventhal, she said, " Mark has been surrounded by love throughout this ordeal and passed away yesterday afternoon with his mom at his side. He brought love into the world and left surrounded by it. We are heavy-hearted. He leaves behind his sons and daughter, his parents, his sisters, his friends and so many whose lives he has touched. He remains in our hearts always."
In January, Leventhal was in intensive care battling a mysterious infection, according to his family.
Amy Leventhal said her brother experienced back pain and fatigue, but thought it was a "bad back."
"Mark didn't have insurance and I know that because of that he didn't go to the doctor and I think he's one of many people who fell without a safety net," she told CBS4's Maggie Newland.
A friend had taken Leventhal to urgent care in January and he was sent straight to the intensive care unit at Jackson North.
Leventhal's son Alec, 19 said he's in "complete shock." The college student explained, "I was in class, I just got a call saying 'You need to call this nurse. Your dad's really sick' and I freaked out."
He rushed home to be with his dad and the rest of his family.
"My dad, he's a real big influence on me. I make music and stuff so does my little brother we look up to him a lot," said Alec Leventhal.
Leventhal has a big following in Miami. Ben Arndt, General Manager of Haven, where Leventhal hosted popular 80's parties, said, "Mark has been a legend for 20 years at the hottest clubs." He added, "This is someone who has done personal gigs for weddings for celebrities, has played small private parties for Madonna, Prince and others."
Arndt says Leventhal is loved by everyone from celebrities to employees at the clubs where he worked.
Because he didn't have health insurance, Leventhal's sister started a fundraising page for him. In two days it raised more than $13,000 dollars.
Even after his death, people are also using the page to share the ways Mark Leventhal touched their lives.
