Leonard Herbert Levitan MD

May 8, 1932 - November 4, 2020

Leonard H. Levitan, MD of Minneapolis, 88, passed away on November 4, 2020 after a struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease and then Covid-19. He lived a long, joyful, energetic and productive life, full of fun experiences and caring for others. Len was born in New York to immigrant parents Ida and Jacob Levitan on May 8, 1932. Jacob arrived in NY at the age of 14 and was a garment cutter. Len grew up in a one bedroom apartment in the Amalgamated Clothing Workers Union housing coop; a childhood poor in dollars but rich in community love for its children and reverence for education. He graduated from De Witte Clinton High in 1949 and from NYU in 1953. He graduated from Albany Medical School in New York in 1957 with an MD, high honors, and AOA membership. He interned at Detroit Receiving Hospital where he met Joyce, his wife of 60 years. Internship was followed by 2 years as a Captain in the U.S. Air Force including a year in Thule, Greenland. Len and Joyce were married in Detroit on March 27, 1960. He completed a 3 year Radiology Residency program at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. He loved radiology and also collected a Master’s from U of MN for his research in mammography. Daughter Judy was born there. Rochester was followed by three years at the Hitchcock Clinic (Dartmouth) in Hanover, New Hampshire. Son Paul was born there. It was interesting and enjoyable, but in the end, Len was invited to join the then small (8 partners) group called St. Paul Radiology and he and Joyce returned to Minnesota for life. In his 31 years practicing radiology, at St. Lukes and then new United Hospitals, the group expanded enormously - in no small part because of the introduction of CT. Len enjoyed his work as few people enjoy what they do. He, with partner Harry Eelkema, persuaded the group to purchase the first CT machine in MN outside of the Mayo Clinic and was a leader in moving Twin Cities radiologists to MRI. In addition to a term as president of his board, Len served as Chief of Staff at United Hospitals and was invited to be a fellow in the American College of Radiology, along with other awards. He disliked the thought of retirement at 65, and first went with Joyce to Israel for a 3 mo. volunteer stint at Poriya Hospital in the Galilee and then signed on at HCMC for a few more years of part-time work and teaching. Lenny and Joyce valued the many friends that became Family in the 50 years after they moved to St. Paul. He joked that they were “the newcomers” in acknowledgment of the many families here that had 4 generations of family in town. Son Mark was born here. Len had many interests in life and managed to involve his family in most of them. He simply adored his kids and had a special relationship with each of them. In addition to teaching them to swim, read books, ice skate, ski, bike, and canoe and camp in the BWCA, he coached Little League, was there for swim meets and ski races, and was the unofficial ski binding adjuster every winter for all the neighbor kids. He delighted in his children’s achievements in and out of school – but is remembered for always mumbling “A is for Aspen. B is for Buck Hill.” He was a fine natural athlete; never took a lesson in anything but played baseball (pitcher), superb tennis (many cups), and loved biking, skiing and hiking in his beloved Rocky Mountains – where he could identify every wildflower. A self-taught gardener, he surrounded their Mendota Heights home with beautiful flower gardens. He was an omnivorous reader, and also loved classical music and theatre – seeing every main stage play at the Guthrie from 1966 until his death. An active member of the St. Paul Jewish Community and Beth Jacob Congregation, Len served on several boards, as vice-president of the St Paul Talmud Torah, and was a strong supporter of the UJF, JCC, and JFS. He was also a volunteer tutor at three different elementary schools, the last being Marcy-Holmes in their “downsize neighborhood” in Minneapolis. Travel was very high on Len’s list. In addition to taking the kids on car trips throughout the Midwest, up and down the East Coast, the Rocky Mountains and the West Coast, he and Joyce went to Israel numerous times, repeatedly to Europe, and took a couple of 3 week biking trips in France with Israeli friends “to get a close-up look.” After retirement, they took exciting trips to Egypt, China, and India. His grandchildren were the delight of Len’s life. He loved Sadie, Eliza, Nathan, and little Alana so very much. He and Joyce spent countless happy hours with them in museums and zoos, for Shabbat and holiday dinners, and just hanging out. “They bring the sunshine,” Saba said over and over as he described in detail how smart, talented, and beautiful they were to anyone who would listen. The family would like to thank special friends who meant so much to Len and to us: Jack and Louise Marta, Alexandra Pokorny, Marvin and Katzie Zuckerman, Don and Rhoda Mains, Loey and Jerry Rutman, Les and Susie Fishman, Jonathan and Ruth Paradise, John Allen and Sharon Benmaman and many others. Also his wonderful caregivers: Buster Fallah, the entire staff at Abiitan Mill City – The Terraces, and his end of life caregivers at Abbott Northwestern Hospital. Leonard was preceded in death by his parents, Ida & Jacob Levitan – most of whose relatives, all from Belarus, died in the Holocaust. Len is survived by his sister, Virginia Riklin; loving wife Wilma Joyce; and children Dr. Judith Levitan (Rosanne), Dr. Paul Levitan, and Mark Levitan (Marianne); and four grandchildren, Sadie and Eliza Levitan, and Nathan and Alana Levitan. Also nephews Joel and Jay Riklin and nieces Sandy Knoll , Sandy Hoffman and Linda Loomis and their families. Memorials preferred to Beth Jacob Congregation, Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, Heilicher Minneapolis Jewish Day School, or donor’s choice. Zoom funeral 11am SUNDAY 11/8/2020 and Zoom SHIVA 7 pm Sunday. For the zoom link for both funeral and Shiva, email [email protected]