California Obituaries, Los Angeles County

Submitted by Peggy Hooper 

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The Downey Eagle
November 30, 2001 Volume 9 Number 41

Services for community leader Dorothy Levin
DOWNEY-Services were held Thursday, Nov. 29, at Home of Peace Memorial Park, 4334 Whittier Blvd., 
Los Angeles, for Dorothy Levin, a longtime community leader in Downey who died Sunday, Nov. 25. 
She was 83, born to parents Barney and Ida Lehrman Reiss, who brought her to Los Angeles from Brooklyn 
and New Jersey when she was four. 
She attended Thomas Starr King Junior High School and John Marshall High School, where she skipped 
two grades and participated in many activities. She was noted for her professional whistling when she 
studied radio broadcasting at Los Angeles City College. 
She dedicated her adult life to community service in Downey, winning numerous awards from Temple 
Ner Tamid and serving as editor of "Chai Line" monthly bulletin of the Sisterhood for more than 20 years. 
She received the B'nai Brith Women Freedom Citation Award and served as the chair of the Anti-Defamation 
League. 
One of her crowning achievements was as co-founder and frequent president of the Downey Museum of 
Art. She took great pride in the juried shows and the work the museum did with children. She helped raise 
money for the City of Hope through the Downey Chapter, Together for Hope, and was a frequent chapter 
president. 
Other major affiliations included a charter membership in the Women's Committee for the Downey 
Symphony; Downey League of Women Voters; Meals on Wheels; board member of the Area Council of 
Camp Fire Girls; Downey Rose Float Association; American Cancer Society's speakers' bureau; and the 
Advisory Board of Family Services. 
A few of her many awards included the Downey Rotary Award for Volunteer Service; awards from the 
Downey Recreation Department and the County Board of Supervisors. 
Even in failing health, she attended several board meetings each week. 
Survivors include her husband, Peter; her daughter, Bonnie; a grandson, Michael; a sister, Miriam Becker; 
and nephews Harry (Pat) Becker, Sandy (Ann) Blanchard-Becker, Reiss Blanchard Becker; and nieces Carla 
P. Becker and Jennifer Becker. 
Burial followed the services. 
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Temple Ner Tamid, the Downey Museum of Art, or 
the City of Hope.