As head of the local United Jewish Community Centers in the 1970s, Morris Levin made it a priority to reach out to the thousands of Soviet Jewish emigres streaming into the Bay Area.
That the centers are now a hub for immigrants from teens to seniors is just one of the legacies Levin left for local JCCs, say those who knew him. Levin died Monday of last week in San Francisco after a short illness. He was 79.
“He was a tremendously dedicated professional, open and responsive,” said Michael Papo, associate executive director of the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation from 1973 to 1984 and now executive director of the Koret Foundation. “He was willing to use the centers to serve as many diverse populations in the Jewish community as possible.”
During 12 years as head of the UJCC, Levin oversaw the programming and financial workings of a group of JCCs, including centers in San Francisco, Marin, Palo Alto and Belmont. He also oversaw the operation of Camp Tawonga and San Francisco’s Montefiore Senior Center and was instrumental in physically connecting the Montefiore building to the JCC of San Francisco.
In the early 1970s, he organized a program to provide kosher meals to seniors at the centers and in their homes.
Before assuming the position with the UJCC here, he worked in the same role at the UJCC in Chicago. “He dedicated himself to the Jewish community wherever we were,” said Evelyn Levin, his wife of 49 years.
A Moscow native, Levin immigrated to the United States with his family at age 4 and settled in Ohio. He graduated from Ohio State University and Case Western Reserve University.
During World War II, he served as a U.S. Army sergeant in the intelligence division and was stationed in Germany.
“He was one of those magna cum laude people who many agencies would have been delighted to have,” his wife said. But he chose to work in the Jewish realm “because his affiliation with the Jewish community was something deep inside him.”
Levin belonged to a number of organizations, including San Francisco’s Congregation Sherith Israel, the National Association of Social Workers, the Jewish Welfare Board and the Executive Service Corps.
Upon retiring, Levin had more time to dedicate to his many hobbies, including swimming, golfing, diving and classical music. At age 65, he pursued a lifelong dream and received a master’s degree in philosophy from San Francisco State University.
An avid reader, he was interested in “the whole fabric of life… morals, ethics, beliefs,” his wife said. “He was quite a remarkable person, very gentle, caring. He was a great father, a good husband. He led a very full and wonderful life.”
Funeral services were held Thursday of last week at Sinai Memorial Chapel in San Francisco.
Levin is survived by wife Evelyn of San Francisco and children Judy Levin-Epstein of Oakland, Bruce Levin of Healdsburg and Steve Levin of Williamstown, Mass. He is also survived by grandchildren Rachel and Rebecca Levin-Epstein and Cleo Levin. The family asks that donations be made to the Jewish Community Federation, 121 Steuart St., S.F., CA 94105.