Barbara Fraida Levin was born March 6, 1934 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Dr. Louis (Lou) and Helen Winer. In 1945, the family, including her younger sister Marylee moved from Minneapolis to Los Angeles where Dr. Winer sought out the opportunity to not only build a private practice in Dermatology, but also hold an Assistant Professor of Dermatology at University of Southern California and Clinical Professor of Medicine/Dermatology at UCLA until he retired in 1989.

Barbara attended University High School in Los Angeles, and was accepted at Stanford University where she studied her freshman year before transferring to Smith College. Barbara went on to study abroad in Provence, France where she became fluent in French and where she made lifelong friends that she kept closely in touch with until her later years.

Upon returning to Los Angeles, Barbara was set up with her husband Dr. Gerald (Gerry) Levin and shortly after, got married in 1955. Barbara and Gerry had 4 children, Maurice, Sara, Helen and Eve and 4 Grandchildren: Aaron, Jacob, Adam and Jessica.

Barbara was known for being active in the community in so many ways. She was the local girl scouts troop leader, an active member of the Sisterhood of University Synagogue, and was affably known by all her neighbors in the Crestwood Hills Community for her willingness to drop whatever she was doing to be there when in need.

Barbara went back to school and attained her Adult Education Teaching Credential from Mount St. Mary's so that she could pursue a career as a teacher of Adult Education through the City of Los Angeles with the LA Unified School District. She thrived in her role and was promoted to the position of Administrator of Education for older adults where she raised the number of weekly classes from 50 to 300 before retiring in her early 70s.

Barbara was an active member of University Synagogue for 60 years and was very proud of her Judaism. She and Gerry often held large shabbat gatherings at the house where Gerry cooked decadent meals, while Barbara entertained family and friends with slide shows of their travel adventures.

Barbara lived a fulfilling and very active life in her 90 years with us. She was dedicated, determined, and fearless. She loved her husband Gerry, traveling the world and visiting wildlife in far away places, and she instilled the value of education not only within her family, but in the lives she touched as an educator. Barbara loved her home–it was her sanctuary and happy place. Until her 80s she could be found hiking the steep hills of Kenter Canyon, undeterred by any physical limitations. She was an inspiration to us all, and will be missed greatly.

If you would like to make a donation in Barbara’s memory, please consider a gift to The Nature Conservancy or Wilshire Boulevard Temple’s Sisterhood Fund.

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