Remembering Harris Levinson

HONOR. This is a photo of Harris Levinson. He was an important community member who had a wonderful life and Influenced many people. Photo courtesy of Susan McCabe.

Last summer, one of our beloved community members, Harris Levinson, passed away at age sixty-two. He was not only a friend to many on the island, he also taught at VHS for over twenty years. Levinson was a passionate teacher who brought in alternative learning styles, and made many students excited to go to school. During his time at VHS, he taught American Studies, Spanish, and also took part in the theater productions and clubs such as Journeymen.

Aaron Marsh, a teacher at Vashon High School who worked with Levinson for 4 years, shared his experience.

“Harris was a very kind man who was deeply passionate about education… He was a good conversationalist and I felt like I could bounce ideas off him,” Marsh stated.

“He was the first Spanish teacher at VHS to get rid of desks and have a moving curriculum, which I thought was very interesting,” Marsh added, in speaking about Levinson’s unusual teaching styles.

He also created many special opportunities for his students. For example, in his American studies class, they were able to talk via Skype to Aung San Suu Kyi, who at the time was a political prisoner in Myanmar.

Later, Levinson began to teach at SOTA and then SAMI, where he taught Spanish and outdoor classes. Over 500 people attended his memorial, including many of his old students, who said that he had been their favorite teacher.

“The most unique thing about Harris was his ability to be such a special, dedicated teacher for many years and impact the lives of so many along the way. He truly loved what he did,” commented Alyssa Myres, Harris’s older sister.

Not only was he an influential part of these schools, but he had a large presence in our community as well. He was a skilled actor who was a regular on the stage of Vashon productions such as Drama Dock and 14/48. Over the years he coached many students during Shakespeare in the Park, encouraging and spreading his love of theater to future generations.

Along with acting, music was also a big part of his life. He was an avid fan of alternative bands and was constantly attending shows in the city.

“[We were always] going to see concerts [such as] Andrew Bird, David Byrne, The Bad Puls, Bill Frissell and many others,” recalled William Jarcho, a longtime friend of Harris.

He was even a cofounder of Sharing The Stage, where youth bands had the chance to open for famous artists such as Macklemore.

He wasn’t afraid to try things such as stand up comedy. He had a sense of adventure that was not just tied to the stage, but encompassed many other aspects of his life. Levinson loved spontaneous travel and was often hiking or mountain climbing. He was always competitive, and enjoyed games and any physical activity.

“My favorite memories of Harris were mostly in our adult years and centered around being outdoors and playing sports… whether it was skiing, playing pickleball, tennis, or ping-pong, we always went all out,” Myres recalled.

He had incredible amounts of energy and enthusiasm that allowed him to delve into many interests including addressing current issues. Levinson spent many summers volunteering in Africa and South America. He was an avid political activist who you could find at many local and national protests, encouraging his students to do the same and not to be apathetic about the world. He advocated for discussions about important topics, wanting everyone to have the opportunities for their voices to be heard.

“Harris was an amazing listener and dedicated friend who really cared about everyone he engaged with,” said Jarcho.

Levinson had a deep impact on all those who were lucky enough to have him as a teacher or friend. He will be greatly missed and remembered for all he did.