Marlyn Katz Katz Levenson

Marlyn died on May 9, 2013 (29 Iyar 44 Omer 5773). She was the beloved wife of Rabbi Paul /Shaul H. Levenson, the mother of Yonah, Bobby, Dode and Ilana, and Bubbie of Shoshi, Sydney and Isabel Levenson, Katherine and Elizabeth Lerner, and Burton Hirschman. She was Mom to her children’s spouses, Steve Hirschman, Michele Janis, Mindy Kaiden Levenson, Lynne Antflick Levenson, and Warren Katz.

Marlyn Katz Levenson, an educator and oral historian, she began her professional career as a full time Hebrew teacher and spent most of her career as a teacher of English as a Second Language (ESL). She considered herself honored to have been elected President of the Massachusetts ESL Chapter of the National ESL. She has taught hundreds of students from all over the globe, ranging in English fluency from those with an English vocabulary of “Hello, Goodbye, Coca Cola” too Doctoral students at Harvard. For the last 11 years she has been teaching Memoir Writing at Brandeis U’s Learning in Retirement Program. She often lead workshops on HOW TO GET STARTED IN MEMOIR WRITING. Her strong message to everyone was that “each person’s life and life story is completely unique, valid, and interesting, and the highlights of your life need to be preserved and remembered”.

Marlyn was born in Philadelphia, PA, to Eastern European Jewish immigrants, Mollie (Barrod) Katz and Max Katz. She and her husband, Rabbi Paul/Shaul H. Levenson live in Newton Highlands, MA, and are the parents of four children and grandparents of five. Since returning to Boston in 1981 they have been enthusiastic participants in the life of The Newton Centre Minyan.

Shiva will be at the Levenson home Sunday 1PM-5PM, 7:15PM-10PM (Minyan @7:45PM); Monday 6:45AM, 1PM-5PM and 7:15PM-10PM; Tuesday 7AM; Tuesday-Thursday: Shevuot @ Newton Centre Minyan; Thursday night @ Levenson’s 7:15PM-10PM. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the L’Chayim Fund c/o the Levenson’s home address or to the Needham Community Council, 57 Hillside Ave., Needham, MA 02494.