Aaron Levin

Aaron Levin, a retired school principal of both the Louis H. Farrell School and the Youth Study Center of Philadelphia, died on February 7, 2026, at the age of 102 11/12 in Ocala, Florida.

He was born on February 24, 1923, in Philadelphia and attended Philadelphia public schools and Temple University. He received his doctorate in education from the University of Sarasota.

Aaron left Simon Gratz High School in 1942 to enlist in the Marines during WWII. He trained as an air gunner and aerial photographer during the war and attained the rank of corporal. He was a proud member of Marine Observation Squadron 155 (VMO-155) and the Fleet Marine Force in the central Pacific. He attended many Marine Corps reunions and served in the same unit as John Glenn.

After the war, he completed his GED, then received Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Temple University. Aaron began his teaching career at Northeast High School and then at Cleveland Elementary School. He received a doctoral degree in Education and Administration from the University of Sarasota. In 1963, he was appointed a school principal. Aaron served as a school administrator in Philadelphia for over 25 years at Cleveland, Robert Fulton, John D. Kelley, the Youth Study Center, and Louis H Farrell Schools.

He also taught Hebrew School at West Oak Lane Jewish Community Center, where he also served on the Board of Directors. He was also on the boards of the Prisoners’ Family Services, the J.Y C. Summer Camps, the American Legion, and VMO/VMF 155 U.S.M.C. Squadron. Aaron was a long-time member of the National Education Association and the Pennsylvania State Education Association. He was also an alumnus of the Rand Institute, a charter member of the Commonwealth Association of School Administrators, and the Educators Unit of B’nai B’rith.

Aaron was an active fisherman, dog breeder (Miniature Pinschers), talented ballroom dancer, and nature enthusiast. He was a member of the Gwynedd Valley Sportsmen’s Club, the Comstock Naturalist Society, and the Philadelphia Herpetological Society. He also worked summers at the Philadelphia J.Y.C. summer camps. Aaron was a talented artist and proudly wore a jacket from his Marine Corps days that sported a patch from his squadron that he had designed.

His wife of 72 years, Joan Lois (Lessig) Levin, predeceased him in 2022. His son, Robert Levin, died in 2018. He is survived by daughters Barbara Levin Katz, (Mike Zeller), and Debra Paikoff, (Richard). He is also survived by six grandchildren - Daniel Katz, (Melissa Sholtzow), Elana Katz, (Matthew Bear), David Levin, Joel Levin, Rachel Siegel, (Nathaniel), Brandon Paikoff (Ilana), and five great-grandchildren.

He was buried at the VA National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida. Donations in Aaron Levin’s memory can be made to either VOCAL (Voices of Change for Animals) https://vocalforpets.org  or Chuck’s Piggy Bank https://chuckspiggybank.com