Zeev Azmon

Zev Azmon was born on June 22, 1935 in Bucharest, Romania to his mother Miriam Aladjem (aka Mama, born Sofia, Bulgaria) and David Burlingbloom (Born Romania). Zev did not have any living siblings, an older sister died as an infant prior to his birth. An artistically and intellectually gifted young boy born amidst the turmoil of WWII he was able to safely emigrate with his mother to Bulgaria and avoid internment. In 1949 Zev then emigrated with Mama to Tel Aviv, Israel. With Mama’s grace to do so Zev joined the Israeli army in 1952 at the age of 17. He served for 10 years, and was a member of the Golani Brigade of the Israeli army achieving a rank of Captain. He fought in the 1956 Sinai War, where he was wounded, and then left the army in 1962. He was a member of the Israeli police and for a time acted as personal security to David and Paula Ben Gurion.

He later became an electrical technician working for a company where in 1963 he met the love of his life Levana. Their love was passionate and strong, finding quick attraction in their shared intellect and humor and by June of 1964 they were married and moved to Holon, Israel. On May 25 of 1967, following his beloved Mama, they emigrated to the United States. Levana, 6 months pregnant at the time, hid her pregnancy in order to leave. They first put down roots in Houston, Texas, working in the fashion industry from the beginning…

On August 11, 1967 Zev and Levana welcomed their son Albert Azmon, the 1,000,000 child born in Houston, Texas. Albert was his pride. As a child Zev enjoyed watching Albert’s athleticism out on the court and fields as he played baseball and basketball. Later in life he enjoyed sitting down with Albert and watching sports on the television. As Albert flourished into a successful businessman Zev’s pride only grew.

All four returned to New York briefly in 1969 to buy, sell and tailor within the fashion industry. The cold winter weather was not the right mix for their Mediterranean blood and in August of 1970 all four moved to Los Angeles, CA. The place Zev would call home for the next 53 years.

In 1970 Zev, Levana and Mama opened up their fashion store, The Bon Fit (later Azmon Fashions), first creating custom designs and alterations. Zev, a man with an aesthetic eye for fashion and design, used his artistry to design atelier dresses and clothing. Levana and Mama, master seamstresses, crafted them to perfection. Zev designed for the movie and television studios and individual custom clothing and then eventually moved the shop into direct retail. The shop remained open for 53 years, and closed in April of 2023.

On February 19, 1974 they welcomed their daughter Sharon. Zev was often accompanied by his little girl, walking hand in hand with his daughter wherever he went.

A passionate and tireless man - he enjoyed spending time with his family, taking care of things, building, creating and fixing things. He loved to swim, he loved to garden, and he loved to take a nice car ride with his family - “bou neleh le tayel” (בוא נלך לטייל) let’s go sight-see. Up the beautiful coast, into Downtown LA to the jewelry and fashion District, through the stately homes of BelAir, Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive. A weekend trip to Las Vegas, or Solvang.

He worked every day of his life. A business owner who took pride in his ownership; he formed loving and lasting relationships with his clients and customers who became lifelong friends and his salespeople who he worked with for decades. Every shop that he frequented from the local supermarkets to banks the salespeople knew him, he developed relationships and spent time talking and reminiscing with them. He always carried candies in his pockets, “a little something sweet,” and offered them to everyone he knew.

He had a miracle green thumb and could make anything bloom. His plants and his beautiful roses all thrived under his loving care. He loved beautiful things, he created golden baubles for his ladies - Levana, Mama and Sharon. He could design anything - jewelry, clothing, carports, patios, rooms and he loved to create. The school projects that he helped his children make were immaculate, and clearly beyond the scope of a 10 year old - but in doing so he taught… Albert and Sharon learned from him creativity, precision and an appreciation of beauty. He had art all around him, and rejoiced in creating and encompassing himself with these representations of beauty. To his last days his eyes would catch a group of paintings on his wall - and he would simply say “it’s so beautiful.”

He rejoiced in the marriages of his children; Al to Gina and Sharon to Josh. Josh and Gina were like a son and daughter to him. When his grandchildren Zoey and Evan were born there was not a prouder father or grandfather. As long as he was able to - he played, he sat, and he smiled with them. He was proud of his children’s and grandchildren’s accomplishments. To Zev family was everything. His family in Israel, his beloved Ezra, Freida and Ezmirah were not Levana’s siblings, they were his own. They were brother and sister to him, too. Safta Salha was his second mother. The weddings, bar and bat mitzvahs, the family celebrations brought him so much joy.

Mama was always with him. She passed in 1991, and never a day went by when he didn’t speak to or remember her. Now he is at peace with her …

Zev is survived by Levana, his loving wife of 59 years, his son Albert and wife Gina, his daughter Sharon and husband Josh, and grandchildren Zoey and Evan. He is remembered by many…

A funeral service will be held in his honor on Sunday, September 3rd at 10am, at Eden Mortuary 11500 Sepulveda Blvd, Mission Hills, CA 91345. All are welcome.