FORT WAYNE – Saralee Greenblatt Levin was born in Chicago, May 18, 1926. She passed away Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020.
Saralee grew up in Chicago and attended the University of Illinois. She majored in liberal arts and sciences, earning a bachelor’s degree in political science and economics in 1947. For a time, Saralee attended the University of Illinois Law School. That same year, sister Roslyne and her roommate Carol Kanter, fixed up a blind date with Carol’s cousin, Howard Levin. The date was successful, and Saralee and Howard were engaged three weeks later. They married on July 11, 1948. Howard passed away Sept. 16, 2016. They were married 68 years.
As a young woman, Saralee worked as a social worker for Cook County, Ill. The work was tough and softhearted. Saralee would often pay the medical and prescription bills for her indigent clients. She was the office manager and bookkeeper for Howard’s Chicago company, Empire Iron and Steel, from 1948-1957. She was also a buyer for Mandel Brothers Department store in Chicago. Later, the couple moved to Warsaw and lived there from 1957-2013. Saralee worked as the corporate secretary, treasurer and later president of the family business, Myer Levin and Sons Inc., and was a partner in an art gallery and framing studio in Warsaw called The Sand Cracker. Among Saralee’s many interests and activities were the South Shore Hebrew Congregation’s Drama Club, Chicago; the National Council of Jewish Women, Chicago; lifetime member of Hadassah; Sunday school teacher and administrator of Congregation Achduth Vesholom, Fort Wayne. Among the many charitable activities and awards in Warsaw were: lifetime supporter of academic and need-based college scholarships to Warsaw Community High School students; founder and president of the Board of the Warsaw Biblical Gardens; founder of the American Association of University Women, Warsaw chapter; founder of the League of Women Voters, Warsaw chapter; president of Mother’s Study Club; president, province 10 officer, and Scholarship Banquet’s Chair of the Tri-Kappa Charitable Sorority and founder of the Tri-Kappa Nappanee Chapter; popular interfaith speaker; member of the Tuesday Dramatic Club; and 1969 Woman of the Year.
Saralee’s parents were Gertrude and Solomon Greenblatt. Her siblings and their spouses are: sister, Roslyne Greenblatt Heimann; brother-in-law, Ernst Heimann; sister, Jacqueline Greenblatt Schwartz (deceased); brother-in-law, Stanley Schwartz (deceased); brother, Judge Joel Greenblatt; sister-in-law, Judith J. Greenblatt (deceased). Saralee’s children are: son, Dr. Kerry Levin; daughter-in-law, Dr. Johanna Goldfarb; son, Jason Levin; daughter-in-law, Susan Levin; daughter, Rhonda Levin Kurtis; son-in-law, Michael Kurtis (deceased). The grandchildren are: granddaughter, Rosa Levin; granddaughter, Elle Levin; granddaughter, Jett Levin; granddaughter, Rachel Kurtis McDonald; her spouse, Shaun McDonald; and grandson, Nathaniel Kurtis. The great-grandchildren are: great-grandson, Gavin McDonald; and great-granddaughters, Lena and Evie McDonald.
Services will be held graveside at the Jewish Cemetery in Fort Wayne, 5800 Old Decatur Road, with Rabbi Meir Bargeron officiating. D.O. McComb and Sons, Fort Wayne, is in charge of arrangements.
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Memorials may be given to the Warsaw Biblical Gardens, 523 S. Buffalo St., Warsaw, IN 46580.
