Paul S Levy

Paul Sumner Levy, 95, of Rockville, MD died from Leukemia on Saturday October 30, 2021 in Sarasota, FL surrounded by his family. The son of Sidney and Sophie Levy, and twin brother of Morris, he was born in Roxbury, MA and graduated at 16 from Roxbury Memorial High School in 1942. While working days as a draftsman for the secret Oak Ridge nuclear enrichment facility, he studied engineering at night at Northeastern University. He was a World War II Veteran who proudly served in the U.S. Army Air Corps’ Eighth Air Force (“The Mighty Eighth”) as a B-24 ball turret gunner. He flew 11 successful bombing missions from 1944-45. After the war, he attended Boston University, graduating with a BS in Business in 1949. In that same year, he married the former Harriet Leppanen. They moved to New York City, where he worked days while studying at night at New York University from 1949-62 earning 2 Masters’ degrees - MBA-Statistics and MS-Mathematics. From Brooklyn, then Los Angeles, the family moved to Maryland in 1964, first to Chevy Chase then Rockville in 1965. He joined the U.S. Department of Transportation as a statistician in 1972, where he earned a Superior Achievement Award and retired in 1993.

Paul loved skiing, long distance running, travelling and his family and friends. He skied throughout the U.S. and Europe until he was 88 with Aspen as his favorite. Starting at age 61, he ran 4 marathons. As one of the founding members of the Bender JCC of Greater Washington, Paul enjoyed his spinning and Zumba classes. He is survived by his children Linda Goodman (Carl) of Venice, FL, Sara Levy (Jim) of Washington, DC, and David Levy (Mariama) of Sarasota, FL, his four grandchildren Amanda and Chelsea Goodman, and Senja and Mika Levy, and one great grandson, Axl Carachristi. His parents, brother and former wife preceded him in death. He is also survived by his nephew Robert Levy, niece Ellen Cohen, his JCC spin class, his skiing friends in “The Over the Hill Gang” as well as his lunch group of former DOT colleagues, the ROMEOs (“Retired Old Men Eating Out”).

With his generosity, high energy and perpetual one liners, Paul was a source of tenacity, inspiration and humor to many, up until the very end. When informed of his severe condition, he quipped that he wasn’t worried about his final resting place, as he had “friends in both places.”

Graveside service will occur at Sarasota National Cemetery on Friday November 5, 2021 at 1:30PM. The family will receive friends afterwards. A celebration of life will be planned in MD for a future date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to U.S. Holocaust Museum in Paul’s name. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmsrobartsfuneralhome.com for the Levy family. The service will be livestreamed at https://youtu.be/b-eBARwHz2c