Jay Douglas LEVINSOHN

May 7, 1923 - January 19, 2014 Born on May 7, 1923 in New York City, Jay passed away suddenly on January 19, 2014 at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, California, surrounded by his loving wife, daughter and son. Jay brightened every day and every room he was ever in. His smile, easygoing manner, and optimistic view of the world made every person that he met feel better and happier. He grew up in New York City and Rumson, New Jersey. He married the former Joyce Salton in 1959, and they moved to Tenafly, New Jersey, where they raised their family and resided for thirty-five years. Jay was an active volunteer and coached his son Ross's baseball and soccer teams for ten years, and volunteered for many civic and charitable organizations. He later lived in Highland Beach, Florida, and spent the last 14 years in Pacific Palisades, California. He served for the United States Army, as a Lieutenant, attached to the Naval Transportation Corps, and made twenty trans-Atlantic crossings during World War II. He spent nearly his entire career in the men's and boys clothing business. He was one of the industry's leading and most well-liked figures from the 1960s through the 1980s. Jay graduated from Phillips Academy Andover, in 1941, and Princeton University, in 1945, where he earned a bachelors degree, majoring in both Psychology and Economics. Throughout his life, he never lost his desire to learn and teach. He excelled in sports, lettering in lacrosse, competed nationally in tennis and horse jumping, and was an avid New York Giants fan. Father, husband, grandfather and friend, he was a kind, gentle and inspirational man. He was always described as an outstanding person and role model. He woke each day with optimism and tried to make every day better for others. He is survived by his wife of 55 years Joyce, his daughter Sharon, son Ross, daughter-in-law Nicole, and grandchildren Skylar and Jagger, all of Los Angeles. He was predeceased by his parents, Sanders and Elsie Levinsohn of New York, and his siblings Ina Levinsohn Steinberg of New Orleans and Howard Lane of New York. A memorial will be held on Thursday morning at 11:00 am at Kehillat Israel Sanctuary in Pacific Palisades, California. Donations to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank are welcome.