Obituaries

Kenneth Levin, age 80, who passed away in Sylvania on October 6, 2024, thought that while we may never really know the meaning of human existence, or understand the vast universe of which we are all a tiny part, did believe that the almost insignificant roll each individual plays in the grand cosmic process should not excuse a failure to help others or to make one's community a little better place.

His life-long interest in the history and development of human societies led to serious academic study in East Asia during the difficult years of America's Vietnam War, and to a groundbreaking 1971 visit with a group of fellow graduate students to the People's Republic of China during the turmoil of that country's disruptive "Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution." That pioneering visit, and meetings with dozens of important officials (including Chinese Premier Chou En-lai), followed by a nationwide speaking tour, helped to introduce Americans to the Chinese people, bring down hostility, calm the atmosphere, and pave the way for a visit to China by U.S. President Richard Nixon the following year-setting a tone for better relations while warning about coming serious economic competition-which is better, however, than extending the confrontations of the Cold War, with ongoing mutual military threats of nuclear annihilation-as China developed into a great world power.

After teaching for a while at Antioch College in Ohio, Ken returned to Toledo and began a 30+ year 2nd business career in commercial/industrial real estate appraising, management and development. During those years, his passionate interest in history continued with research and study into the local area, acquisition of a huge archive of historical picture postcards of Toledo and northwest Ohio, followed by many popular talks and a major pictorial book titled "You Will Do Better in Toledo", illustrating the rise and development of Toledo into an important industrial city (glass and automobiles) during the first half of the 20th century.

There will be no visitation or formal service, and interment in the family plot at Historic Woodlawn Cemetery will be private.

Ken's hopeful wish for everyone was: "Be kind to one another and don't miss an opportunity to help someone less fortunate".