Gideon Shavit

Gideon Shavit, PhD (1935-2025) Son of Rivka and Isaac Shavit, passed away in Oakland, CA on 4/30/2025 after a stroke. Born in British controlled Palestine in 1935, Gideon and his family celebrated the founding of the Modern State of Israel by choosing Shavit (meaning Comet) as his new family name, along with his brother Aaron and his sister Tehila. He served as a Lieutenant in the Israeli Defense force in the 1956 war, surviving an incident where his jeep rolled over a live landmine. After his military service, he enrolled in an Agricultural Engineering program at the Technion--the Israeli Institute of Technology. After graduation, Gideon was accepted to a Masters Program in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Minnesota, where he had family on his father's side and met his wife of nearly 63 years, Gayle (Smith) Shavit, who he married in 1962.

Gideon took a position at Honeywell in Minneapolis and was soon transferred with Gayle and his newborn son Dean to a office in Arlington Heights, IL where he worked until his retirement, eventually settling down in Highland Park, IL after a stints in Skokie, IL and Lexington, MA with daughter Dawn (1966-2006), son Jordan (1970) and daughter Shira (1973). Earning a PhD in Mechanical Engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology, and US Citizenship, Gideon had a very long and influential career working as Director of Honeywell's Advanced Engineering team until his retirement in the mid-90s. His career included extensive service as a fellow of the ASHRAE trade organization, numerous patents, a major role in the design and implementation of the HVAC control system for the World Trade Center, but most significantly, building an international network of talented engineers, most of whom became lifelong friends. A devoted father, Gideon often said "my children are my hobby" and worked tirelessly to provide for his family in as many ways as possible and was always there for them. However, Gideon was well acquainted with loss--first his brother Aaron in a work accident in 1965, then his father unexpectedly in 1970. His daughter Dawn was, born in 1966 with severe developmental delay. But he persevered for his family, and was devoted to his mother Rivka, who he visited in Israel frequently until her death at 92 years old.

During his long retirement, Gideon spent quality time with his grandchildren Eli, Simon and Nadav, while helping his wife Gayle run a private tutoring service--she taught reading and he taught math. He and Gayle traveled the world, often visiting many of his former colleagues in Japan and other countries until health issues forced them to stay put.

His entire life, Gideon Shavit was a great friend and colleague to many--his circle was highly educated and eclectic. Many of them are gone and happy to have him to rejoin in the next life. Gideon is preceded in death by his parents, older brother, daughter Dawn, and survived by his wife Gayle, sister Tehila, sons Dean (Robin Levin) and Jordan (Erika Levin), daughter Shira (John Muir), grandsons Eli, Simon and Nadav.

The Shavit Family asks for donations to be made to Misericordia https://www.misericordia.com/giving/donate-online/ in lieu of flowers or gift baskets.