Alfred Levitt (1894-2000), New Yorker painter, jew originating from Ukraine, spent several stays in the south of France during the 50s and 60s, where he discovered the pétanque game. He founded the first New York pétanque club in 1968 (lbny) and committed himself to the institutional development of pétanque at national level creating and chairing during 13 years the fpusa (Federation of Pétanque usa). The exceptional nature of his path comes from his interpersonal skills among the institutions to develop a sport unknown to American people at this time.