JUDITH LEVIN Obituary

LEVIN--Judith Haviva, PhD. Judith Haviva Levin, PhD, passed away suddenly in Teaneck, NJ on December 8. Born to Harry and Ernestine Goldstein, public school teachers, in 1934 in Brooklyn. She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Jonathan Levin, her sons (and wives), Joshua (Dora) and Daniel (Risa), grandchildren (Benjamin, Natan, Talia, Esther), and brother, Bernard Goldstein. She earned a B.A. from Barnard, an M.A. from Harvard, and a Ph.D. from Columbia in Biochemistry. She was a research scientist at NIH for over 50 years, starting as a post-doctoral fellow with Nobel Prize winner Marshall Nirenberg and later serving as the Head of the Section on Viral Gene Regulation. Her recent research focused on HIV replication strategies and host defense mechanisms and aimed at developing new treatments for AIDS patients. Even in retirement, she remained connected to the field - most recently co-editing a 2023 special issue entitled Molecular Genetics of Retrovirus Replication in the journal Viruses. Beyond her love of science, she was dedicated to family and Judaism and Israel. She was a warm and caring person who enjoyed getting to know people and hearing about their lives. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Donations in her memory may be made to the Jewish Education Scholarship Fund at Congregation Beth Sholom (Teaneck).

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Published by New York Times on Dec. 15, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for JUDITH LEVIN

9 Entries

Chris Aiken

March 1, 2024

Judith was always kind and friendly to me at the annual Retroviruses meeting. Last year she sent me an nice note about my lab's presentation, which she viewed online. I appreciate her encouragement over the many years I knew her, and I am pleased that the meeting has established an annual award to honor her memory.

Jeffrey DeStefano

February 26, 2024

I want to express my sympathies to Judy's family. She and I worked on many similar things in our laboratories. I have tremendous respect for her as a scientist and person. She always reserved a table at Cold Spring Harbor for the last night dinner celebrations. I was honored to be part or her table for many years. She was always a pleasure to be around and will be dearly missed.

Tiyun Wu

December 27, 2023

Dr. Judith Levin is a great scientist and a caring mentor. I felt extremely fortunate to be working in her laboratory. She always gave timely advice on science and research projects. Before she retired, she provided major help with my job transition. After her retirement, we kept regular communications via email and phone conversations. My last email to Judith was in reply to her email several days earlier to set up a phone conversation with her. While I was waiting for the reply from Judith, I got the truly sad news of her passing, and we were profoundly saddened. Judith will always live in our heart!

Henry Levin

December 27, 2023

Judith was warm, caring, and an outstanding scientist. Having a lab next to hers for 10 years gave me many opportunities to experience her generosity, insight, and story telling. And having the same last name led to many funny rumors and mistakes with delivery of mail. Her energy was boundless even after retiring she would attend the Retrovirus conference in Cold Spring Harbor and be sure to connect with her many friends. She remembered every detail you told her the previous year and wanted to know how the kids are now.

Nancy Richman

December 19, 2023

Judith was a wonderful human being. I didn't get to know her much over the years my brother Michael has been friends with Jonathan. I did get to know her when I began working with her at NIH. When we realized we knew each other, we were happy to have this reconnection. She was a delight and well known in her scientific field. A dedicated scientist, friend, mother, grandmother, wife, and devoted to Judaism. She is greatly missed. She has been a blessing and her memory will continue to do so.

Shixing Tang

December 18, 2023

I am so sad to know that Judith suddenly passed way in Dec. 8, 2023. Actually, she sent me e-amil in Dec. 7, 2023. She wrote: "It would be wonderful if you get the chance to come to the U.S. I would be pleased to catch up with you and to meet you and your wife." In our conversation, she sounds pretty healthy and stays well. Judith is a great supervisor and a warm and caring person. When I worked in her lab in NIH, she gave me and my family lots of care and suuport. I will miss her forever. May Judith´s memory always be for a blessing.

Yasumasa Iwatani

December 17, 2023

Judith was the greatest mentor of mine and a genuine scientist in our science field. She always gave me level-headed and precise advice in NIH and even after I came back to Japan. Owing to Judith, I can continue to do research in Japan. Without forgetting everything I learned from Judith, I will get even one step closer to Judith as a scientist and mentor. In deepest sympathy.

Lynn and Jonathan Hock

December 15, 2023

Lynn and Jonathan Hock - May Judith´s memory be for a blessing

Lori Ginsberg

December 15, 2023

Judith was a remarkable and brilliant woman who made so many contributions to our society and the world of health science. And in addition to that, for me, I carried Judith in my heart because she was a beloved cousin and childhood playmate to my father. The joy he has always gotten from reminiscing about their childhood days together in turn brought me joy. May Judith´s memory always abide for a blessing.

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