Joseph Levin, 85, Phila. school principal

Long after he had retired, teachers who had served with Joseph Levin are said to have remembered him well.

Dr. Levin had been their principal at three public elementary schools in Philadelphia.

And so in 2012, they presented him with the Educator of Distinction Award from their Alpha Delta Kappa sorority chapter in Philadelphia, his daughter, Ruth Cohen, said in an interview.

"They think the world of him," Cohen said.

On Friday, Oct. 4, Dr. Levin, 85, of Voorhees, died of congestive heart failure at Cooper University Hospital in Camden.

A longtime resident of the Rhawnhurst neighborhood of Northeast Philadelphia, he graduated from Murrel Dobbins High School in 1946, earned a bachelor's in secondary education in 1953, and a master's in educational administration in 1960, both at Temple University, his daughter said.

In 1976, he earned a doctorate in education at what is now Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

He began his career as an elementary school principal at the John H. Webster School on Frankford Avenue near Tioga Street from 1965 to 1981.

Later, he was the principal at the Robert B. Pollock School at 2875 Welsh Rd. and at the Widener Memorial School at 1450 W. Olney Ave.

After retiring, his daughter said, Dr. Levin worked as a consultant on disciplinary matters in public schools in Northeast Philadelphia until 2005.

He was a member of B'nai B'rith and, since 2001, of Temple Beth Sholom in Cherry Hill.

Besides his daughter, Dr. Cohen is survived by his wife, Gertrude; son Steven; and six grandchildren.

Funeral services were set for 11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 6 at Platt Memorial Chapels, 2001 Haddonfield-Berlin Rd., Cherry Hill.

Condolences may be offered to the family at www.plattmemorial.com.