Robert Leavitt

LEAVITT ROBERT W. LEAVITT Of Springfield, passed away on March 13, 2008. Robert is predeceased by his wife of 61 years Mary Janice Deimel Leavitt and is survived by his children, Michael D. Leavitt of Baltimore, MD, Robert W. "Chip" Leavitt, Jr. and wife, Dallas Leavitt of Sunset Beach, NC and Caroline Leavitt Snyder of Las Vegas NV; three grandchildren, Katie L. Cherry, Sari M. Leavitt and Robert “Walker” Leavitt, III; and one great granddaughter, Taylor Ann Cherry. Formerly the Chief Economist of the Defense Intelligence Agency, and an intelligence analyst for about four decades, Mr. Leavitt began his career in intelligence with the Office of Strategic Services, the World War II U.S. intelligence organization. Serving in the Army but assigned to the OSS, he saw military service in China, and was stationed in Kunming when World War II ended. He graduated from Washington University, St. Louis, MO in 1942, and continued his education in economics at American University, Washington, DC after World War II. He was probably best known for his works on the economy and military expenditures of the Soviet Union. In this area he represented the Dept. of Defense at international conferences and testified before committees of Congress. He was one of the first to sound the alarm when Soviet military expenditures soared above those of the U.S. in the early 1970's. Those warning were coolly received by an economy-minded Congress and Administration. Preferring anonymity, he liked to work behind the scenes, but is generally credited with a major role in shopping U.S. estimates of Soviet spending for military programs. These estimates had a significant impact on U.S. Defense policy, particularly in the late 1970's. A funeral service to honor Robert‘s life will be held on Monday, March 17, 2008, 12 Noon at the St. Andrew‘s Episcopal Church, 6509 Sydenstricker Road, Burke, VA. Burial will follow at the Fairfax Memorial Park. Arrangements are under the direction of the Demaine Funeral Home, Springfield. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Robert's memory to the St. Andrew Episcopal Church.