Harold Levine Obituary

Harold Levine

Harold Levine, Professor Emeritus of Mathematics of Stanford University, passed away on Dec 10, 2017 at 95. Born in New York City, he graduated from CCNY before earning a PhD in Physics at Cornell University. He joined the MIT Radiation Lab and accompanied Nobel Laureate Julian Schwinger to Harvard University as a Fellow and Lecturer for 8 years. Harold met his wife, Barbara, at MIT; they moved to California in 1955, when he became a faculty member at Stanford. His research pertained to diverse types of wave motion and diffusion, utilizing explicit analytical techniques. Well-dressed, deeply cultured, and quite outspoken, Harold lived an extraordinarily active and fulfilling life. He was a maritime enthusiast who enjoyed travel, fine dining, tennis, photography, and poetry writing. Ever since his sabbatical years in Europe, he made many enduring friendships. With an observant, outgoing, and generous nature, he was influential and inspiring to all. He is survived by Luanne, Peter, Ronnie and Frances.

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Published by San Francisco Chronicle from Dec. 14 to Dec. 19, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for Harold Levine

11 Entries

Dr. Mark Borowsky

March 5, 2024

Harold in 1954, when he was a Guggenheim Fellow

Mark Borowsky

March 4, 2024

Harold was a Guggenheim Fellow in Applied Mathematics, in 1954 https://www.gf.org/fellows/harold-levine/

December 24, 2017

Harold was the professor in our multivariable calculus course, and later I was a course assistant in his undergraduate classes on partial differential equations and complex analysis. I got to know Harold pretty well over the last 15 years. He and Sol Feferman wrote me letters of recommendation for my successful application to the the Stanford MLA Program. We would get together 2 or 3 times per year, meeting at his apt near Russian Hill, and later The Heritage senior residence near the Marina, and then usually heading over to the B Patisserie on California. He would always send me home with something for my mother. I never failed to enjoy his company. Harold, along with the late Gordon Craig, were old school academicians, who unfailingly wore a coat and tie to class. His lectures were clear, precise, and well prepared. I had looking forward to getting together for the holidays, and introducing him to FB friend who had recently relocated to Oakland. Hava Volterra, a descendant of Vito Volterra, the mathematical physicist who pioneered the study of Integral Equations, which was also a specialty of Harold's. Harold was basically a physicist, who's interest lay in the mathematical techniques used to solve physical problems. His most popular course was on the methods of mathematical physics, for which he used the Courant / Hilbert classic, as the course text. He also taught graduate level classes in integral equations, the calculus of variations, and perturbation theory, among others. Early in his career, he wrote a series of about 7 papers on diffraction theory ( which are still cited ) with the Harvard / Cal tech physicist Julian Schwinger, who along with Richard Feynman, won the Nobel Prize for the development of quantum electrodynamics. So, I can technically argue that I have less 3 degrees of separation form the smartest mind since Einstein. But, it is Harold's erudition that I will miss. Mark Borowsky, M.D Stanford ' 81

Gilles Robert

December 22, 2017

De merveilleux souvenirs du Centre Acoustique de Lyon avec de beaux échanges plein de gentillesse et de subtilité.
Gilles Robert

Pr Jean BATAILLE and Evelyne

December 21, 2017

Harold Levine was a close friend of ours and we will always remember him. He elegantly sailed through life. Jean enjoyed discussing scientific matters with such an outstanding and out of the ordinary personality. We were both charmed and warmed by his wit and open-mindedness. Both Harold and Barbara made our stays at SF dream-like. They were both like family. Until the end they were lucid and they kept abreast of what was going on in our world. Harold expressed his disenchantment with our society in beautiful poems. Luanne and Peter have been their ray of hope

Jean and Evelyne BATAILLE

December 21, 2017

Jean and Evelyne BATAILLE will never forget their close friend, Harold Levine. He sailed elegantly through life. Of course Jean enjoyed discussing scientific matters with such a an outstanding and out of the ordinary personality. Both were charmed and warmed by his open and witty person. He and Barbara made their stays in SF dream-like. Harold and Barbara were like family. Till the end they both were lucid and eager to keep abreast of what was happening to our world, and Harold expressed his disenchantment with our society in beautiful poems. Luanne and Peter have been their ray of hope.

Kindness and Hannah Israel

December 18, 2017

He lived an exemplary life of excellence. A true gentleman and scholar. He will forever be a positive thought in our minds and hearts. We loved him and Barbara. Dear friends indeed.

Carmelita Montemayor

December 18, 2017

The "pastry man"! I will not forget the kind gentleman who on the weekends I was at The Heritage would come and chat with me at the front desk and never fail to ask what I want from the bakery. I miss the travel stories and wonderful pictures he would share when they arrived from New York.

Rest in peace Professor!
Carmelita

December 17, 2017

A gentle mannered man, bright, quick witted, loving and caring. On my visits to San Francisco he would create mathematical equations for fun. He tried to explain them to me, to no avail. I held him in awe.

While our viewpoints were diametrically opposed, and our discussions spirited, they always ended with a hug.

His devotion to my cousin Barbara was unending.
While I will miss both of them I take solace in the thought they are now reunited.

Our loss is now God's gain.

Evie, Dan, Evan, Lisa, Haley, Lauren

Lloyd Hanford

December 17, 2017

I have good memories of all of the intellectually stimulating conversations I had with Harold over lunch at the Cal Club. Always interesting, always challenging and never dull. Harold was a wonderful man and the world lost a giant.

December 15, 2017

As a daughter of another Heritage Resident, I will remember Prof. Levine as always kind and generous. I know how much he loved his pastries! He will be missed by many residents.

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