David Levy | Health-care official, 71

David Levy, 71, of Elkins Park, a retired health care administrator, a chef and a master bridge player, died of lung cancer Monday at his home.

A native of Long Island, N.Y., Mr. Levy served in the Army as a cook.

After his discharge, he earned a bachelor's degree from City College of New York and a master's degree in health administration from Wagner College in New York.

For several years, he worked in health-care administration in New York state, and was director of a camp for disabled children in Schenectady. In the 1970s, he helped organize the first wheelchair basketball league, his son, Jason, said.

Mr. Levy moved to the Philadelphia area in 1981. He was an administrator at a nursing home in Doylestown and later was general manager of the Green Valley Country Club in Lafayette Hill and the Plymouth Country Club in Plymouth Meeting.

In the 1990s, he operated Home Support Services in Eagleville, a provider of home health-care aides. He was past president of the Philadelphia Geriatric Care Managers Society and was often an expert witness in cases involving nursing homes and elder-care and disability services.

Mr. Levy also taught cooking classes, and ran a catering business with an emphasis on Chinese cuisine and culture.

He was past president of the Culinary Society of Philadelphia. Organization members met regularly to attend master classes taught by top chefs from around the country.

In recent years, Mr. Levy taught bridge and ran card games at area bridge clubs.

In addition to his son, he is survived by a life partner, Phyllis Gotgin; a niece and a nephew; and his former wife, Melanie Levy.

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. today at the Howard Gittis Student Center, Temple University, 13th Street and Montgomery Avenue.