Robert Levin

Robert Levin Passed away unexpectedly in his San Jose home on April 2, 2004, at the age of 66. He lived a seemingly ordinary life, but did so in an extraordinary way. Bob was born on April 26, 1937 in New York City, the son of the late Alex and Ida Levin. He served in the U.S. Air Force for four years, and was honorably discharged in 1959. He held a wide variety of jobs throughout his life, starting as a technician for Curtis-Wright in Merced, becoming an engineer for IBM in Poughkeepsie, New York, then transferring to IBM in San Jose. He retired from his job as technical trainer for KLA-Tencor in San Jose in 2003. Bob embodied the spirit of lifelong learning, with his insatiable quest for knowledge. In 1976, he earned a BA in physics from Marist College in New York. Over the years, he took classes in a wide variety of subjects including engineering, statistics, and psychology. At the time of his death, he was taking classes in conflict resolution and pursuing an individualized master's degree at Cal State Hayward. He spent many hours in libraries and bookstores and his home was filled with an eclectic collection of books. Bob took on a passion for causes he truly believed in. He was a frequent caller to radio talk shows, where he was unafraid to express his views to those who felt differently. His most recent passion was for the 2004 presidential campaign, in which he was preparing to do volunteer work for John Kerry. In addition to his many interests and activities, Bob was a devoted father and grandfather. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law Shari and David Clare, his son and daughter-in-law Bruce and Lori Levin, and his beloved grandchildren Adam, Megan, Kaitlyn, and Emily. His untimely death leaves an immense void in the pattern of our lives. We will miss his insights, his wisdom, his compassion, and his love. Family and friends are invited to a gathering at Bruce's home to honor Bob's memory, on Thursday, April 8 from 5 to 9 p.m. Contact Bruce at (408) 323-1747 or Shari at (408) 723-1845 for directions. Donations in his memory can be made to the VA Palo Alto Hospital, 3801 Miranda Avenue, Palo Alto, California 94304.