Roger Lee Levin, PhD

Dr. Roger Lee Levin of Estero, Florida, and Deer Park, Maryland passed away peacefully with family at his side, and joined his Lord on Thursday, February 26, 2026. Roger was the loving husband of Barbara Ann (Simon) Levin for more than 65 years, and the beloved father of Mary Elizabeth (Steve) Lapham, Christine Joy (Scott) Hotham, and Thomas Lyle Levin (Amy); the proud Grandfather of Kelly Lapham Brencsons (Zach), Brian Lapham, Kyle Hotham, Jack Hotham, and Hannah, Aubrey, and Kaylee Levin, and Lauren Levin Parish (Cole); and Great-Grandfather of Theo Brencsons and Ryker Parish.

Roger was born in Clearfield, PA on March 21, 1936, the first of Annie Zoe (McKee) Levin and Paul Venard Levin. He was a graduate of Clearfield High School (1954), The Pennsylvania State University (B.S. in 1958), Yale University (Masters in 1961) and Northwestern University (PhD in 1963). At Penn State, he was a member of the Alpha Chi Sigma Fraternity. On July 16, 1960, he married his beautiful and wonderful bride, Barbara Ann Simon of Reading, PA, after they had initially met at Penn State.

Upon graduation from Penn State, he was commissioned an Officer in the U.S. Navy and assigned to the USS Bigelow (DD 942) which was being built in Boston, MA. Upon completion, the ship and crew deployed to Africa on a 3-month Goodwill Cruise where it visited 16 different countries. Then after a tour of duty in the Mediterranean Sea, Levin was selected as an Admiral Arleigh Burke Scholar by the Navy and sent to graduate school.

After Yale and Northwestern, Roger and Barbara were stationed in Key West, FL, where Roger was assigned to the Navy's Special Unit for the testing and evaluation of advanced undersea warfare systems. Subsequently, he went to the Navy's Special Unit for the testing and evaluation of advanced undersea warfare systems. He then went to the Navy Ship's System Command in Washington, DC to serve as an engineer on a major surface ship sonar project, and was promoted to be the Manager of the Submarine and Surface Ship Acoustic Warfare Program. It was while managing that program that Tom Clancy wrote the book "Hunt for Red October" based on the technology in CDR Levin's program.

In 1970, Levin was one of the founders of MAR, Inc. and he was selected as its initial President and CEO. MAR (Marine Applied Research) was created as one of the premier organizations for the development, testing and evaluation of underwater equipment, devises and systems for the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Coast Guard, the EPA and commercial institutions. Dr. Levin served as the Chief Executive and President of MAR until his retirement at the end of 1992.

Roger and Barbara have lived the remainder of their summers together at Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, and their winters in Estero, Florida. Roger was active with sail boat racing as a member and former Commodore of the Deep Creek Yacht Club at Turkey Neck. He also enjoyed tennis and golfing as a member of the Pelican Sound Golf and River Club, driving his TR-6, reading, and being with his family. Both Roger and Barbara are Elders in the Presbyterian Church of the United States, and both have been very active members in the First Presbyterian Church of Bonita Springs in Florida, and in the Garrett County Episcopal Church in Maryland.

A memorial service will take place at the First Presbyterian Church of Bonita Springs, 9751 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs, Florida, at 11 am on Monday, March 9, 2026. Interment will be at the Oakland Cemetery in Oakland, Maryland. A Celebration of Life will take place in Oakland, Maryland, this summer, with details to follow.