Obituary: Harris Levinson

In Loving Memory of

Harris Levinson

Harris Richard Levinson was widely known and revered on Vashon Island and beyond for his remarkable work as a teacher, youth mentor, and theater artist who had innumerable friends both far and wide. He died on June 23 from injuries sustained in a fall while on a solo hike on the John Muir Trail in the Sierra Nevada mountains in California. He was 61 years old.

Born on October 2, 1963, in Methuen, Massachusetts, Harris was raised in Andover, MA and graduated from Andover High School. He went on to earn his undergraduate degree from the University of Rochester and a graduate degree from the University of Washington. He was a Fulbright scholar on a teacher exchange in Turkey, and more recently received a masters degree in Spanish from the University of Guanajuato in Mexico. For most of his adult life, Harris made his home in Washington State, where he was a longtime resident of Vashon Island.

Harris was widely known for his warmth, generosity, zest for life and learning, and vibrant spirit. A beloved figure on Vashon and throughout the Puget Sound, he left a lasting impression on nearly everyone he met. Friends and colleagues often described his compassion, humor, and deep engagement with others as “legendary.” Many considered Harris to be their “best friend” as he had the amazing ability to make people feel special and loved.

His career as an educator spanned decades and touched countless lives. Early on, Harris served as an educational consultant for the University of Washington FAST Track Project and taught at Garfield High School in Seattle. From 1997 to 2017, he taught at Vashon High School, and spent the last eight years as a teacher and mentor at the Tacoma high schools SOTA (School of the Arts) and SAMI (Science and Math Institute).

Known for his unconventional, student-centered approach, Harris inspired a love of Spanish language and American Studies by blending creativity, real-world discussions, improvisational techniques, and immersive learning in his classes. In 2010, he was honored with the Vashon Island School District’s Doors of Opportunity Award described as honoring “a VISD teacher or staff member who best exemplifies by deed, a true spirit and grit that goes beyond their job description, opening doors and maximizing a student’s potential.”

Beyond the classroom, Harris was an avid outdoorsman, who brought his passions into his teaching. He founded both rock climbing and cycling classes at SOTA and SAMI, regularly guiding students on outdoor adventures that they described as transformative experiences. The profound lasting effect Harris had on his students is all encompassing and is summed up in this former student’s reaction to his death: “I’ve been out of school 25 years and Harris still has an imprint in me/”

Harris was also a fixture in the local arts scene. For ten years he co-edited the literary magazine, Crab Creek Review. He co-founded Sharing the Stage, an initiative that pairs young musicians with professional Seattle acts, and was actively involved with the Vashon Repertory Theater. He was a world traveler, pickle ball fanatic, passionate hiker, music, literature and movie aficionado, elder council member of Journeymen, and a long-time fan of the Boston Red Sox and Celtics. Harris even took the occasional turn as a stand-up comedian. He will be sorely missed.

Harris is survived by his mother, Shirley Levinson of Massachusetts; sisters Karyl Conescu of Massachusetts and Alyssa Myres of Colorado; stepbrother Peter Caplan and his wife Susan Caplan of Massachusetts, stepsister Stacey Caplan of California; brothers-in-law Joshua Conescu of Massachusetts, Dade Myres of Colorado, and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

Celebrations of his life will take place on Vashon Island and on the East Coast later this year. Donations in Harris Levinson’s memory may be made to the Equal Justice Initiative, or Journeymen on Vashon.