Leonard Levy

Age 83. A resident of Georgetown and formerly of Beverly for the last 40 years entered into eternal rest on February 25th surrounded by his family at the Anna Jacques Hospital in Newburyport. He was the husband of Rose (Schorr) Levy. He was born in Peabody on August 26, 1924, the son of Morris and Alice (Davidoff) Levy. He was educated in Peabody and graduated from Peabody High School in 1942. He attended Harvard University and was a veteran of World War II, serving with the United States Army in the Normandy Invasion. After the war, Mr. Levy pursued his career in photography. In 1950, he purchased the William Charles Studio which he owned and operated for over 40 years, first in Beverly and then in Salem on Loring Avenue. He photographed thousands of high school seniors, and specialized in Portraits, Weddings and Bar Mitzvahs. Mr. Levy earned the prestigious designation of a Master Craftsman in the field of Photography. He taught and lectured throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. In addition, he was on the faculty of the Winona School of Photography in Winona Iowa for over thirty years. He also taught for the New England Institute of Professional Photography (NEIPP) and in 2005 the Professional Photographers Assn. of New England along with NEIPP created a scholarship to honor him. Len was on the board of Directors at the New England School of Photography. He was admired by all who knew him not only for expertise in the field of photography, but also for his sense of humor, and his warm personality. He was a member of Congregation B'nai Abraham in Beverly and the Congregation Sons of Israel in Peabody. Along with his loving wife Rose of 61 years, he is survived by his son Jay and his fiancee Karen Rivers of Beverly, his son Neal and his wife Stephanie (Wallace) of Beverly, his daughter Sandy and her husband Howard Kirschenbaum of Georgetown, and his daughter Susan and her husband Robert Schale of Beverly. He is also survived by his grandchildren Alison and Tyler Levy and Sam Schale, his brother, Samuel of Nevada City, CA, as well as many nieces and nephews. Leonard was the brother of the late Ida Swartz, and the late Nathan Levy. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2008 at 11 AM at the Stanetsky-Hymanson Memorial Chapel, 10 Vinnin Street, SALEM, MA followed by interment in Maple Hill Cemetery, Peabody. Memorial observance will be held at his late residence on Thursday, Friday until sundown, and Saturday evening. Expressions of sympathy may be made in Len's memory to the PPANE Scholarship Fund c/o Roland Laramie, PO Box 316, Willimantic, CT 06226.