Gerald Lee Levin

Gerald (Jerry) Lee Levin Jerry Levin, 89, of Dunedin, Florida, gently passed away on Sunday, July 24, 2016 at Suncoast Hospice in Palm Harbor. Jerry was born in Baltimore, Maryland on September 1, 1926. He is a graduate of Baltimore City College/Eastern High School and served honorably in the U.S. Army Air Corps in the Pacific theater in WW II where he once again attempted to become a semi-pro baseball player. LOL. Jerry is survived by his sister, Marcia Hecht, of Baltimore and his children; Randy Letzler (Ronnie) of Wilton, Connecticut, Barry Levin (Patricia) of Dunwoody, Georgia, Karen Hesse (Randolph), of Brattleboro, Vermont, and LTC (ret) Mark Donald (Sharon) of Lakeland, Florida: There are 8 grand children and 3 great grand children. Jerry was married twice, first to the late Boots Levin of Baltimore and then the late Frances Levin of Baltimore. He is also survived by his paramour, Doris Dubinsky of Dunedin, Florida. In his own words, Jerry was quite rowdy as a young man. He and his best friend of 89 years, Stan Bowers, apparently thought that baseball and high jinks were the way to pass the time until they were old enough to enlist. At 17, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps as a pilot recruit. By the time he was called up, WW II was on the down slope and he never got to fly. He did, however, make a significant impact on the processing of danger filled Army paperwork both in occupied Japan and on Okinawa. He also learned to be a journalist due to his ability to type! Jerry spent a long career with a now defunct furniture company but that was only his day job. He turned his love of show business and his ability to type into several Musicals that he wrote, directed and acted in. Who in Baltimore can forget the classic "The Ballad of Bagel Bend" or "Solomon Sez", performed in the late 60's at Sudbrook Junior High School under the sponsorship of the Greenspring Valley Synagogue Sisterhood and Brotherhood? The reviews were HUGE, but Jerry and his then wife, Fran, decided to move to California and broaden their horizons. After many happy and eventful years on the left coast, Jerry and Fran moved to Florida and then Vermont. After Fran passed away, Jerry decided to write and direct a show in Vermont that starred their leading citizens, the Guernsey cows, but the "talent" was uncooperative. All they wanted to do was trundle across the stage with signs that said "Eat Mor Chikn". Not fond of red suspenders, Jerry had had enough of the rural life and moved back to Florida, first to Lakeland and then to Dunedin to be with Doris. He and Doris spent 12 happy years together travelling, meeting with friends and of course, watching anything on television that involved two teams and equipment. Actually, teams and equipment were not absolutely required as long as the program was advertised as a sporting event. Jerry was also a great horseman. While still in Baltimore, he owned several memorable mounts with his buddies. These horses were memorable in that they set several Charlestown and Laurel records for being able to eat more than they won. In his later years, his love of racing took him to Tampa Bay Downs every week for live racing or simulcast. Of course, he had a system for betting. The system's algorithm has been sent to the NSA for analysis and may be classified as a national secret for years to come. The Russians tried to hack it but it used Yiddishe math and they were unsuccessful. Jerry was a wonderful father, grandfather and great grandfather as well as friend and companion. We loved him unconditionally and are going to miss him terribly. His humor, quick wit and kindness will live on. Internment will be at Sylvan Abbey Cemetery on Sunset Point Road in Clearwater, Fl at 4:00 PM on Friday August 26, 2016. His loving children, Mark, Randy, Karen and Barry