Leo S Levy

April 17, 1886 - April 22, 1961

Leo S. Levy, who helped the Oakland Tribune become a major metropolitan newspaper during 50 years as its managing editor, died unexpectedly yesterday (April 22, 1961) in his Orinda home. He was 75 last Monday and had suffered from heart ailments the past few years. His death came from an apparent heart attack while he was sorting books in a downstairs room of his home.

     Mr. Levy's tenure as managing editor of The Tribune was one of the longest on any metropolitan newspaper in the United States. He first joined the newspaper in 1909.

     A soft-spoken, gentle man much beloved by his staff, Mr. Levy started his newspaper career as a printer's devil with the Virginia City, Nev., Chronicle. His parents, Herman and Carrie Levy, were pioneer residents in Nevada and California and operated clothing stores in Virginia City and Reno.

     Leo Levy got his first taste of the business that was to become his life while still attending Virginia City High School. Along with his printer's devil work, he was a cub reporter on the famed Virginia City Territorial Enterprise and worked on the staffs of the Reno American, now defunct, and Nevada State Journal.

     Early in life, Mr. Levy realized the dream of every working newspaperman – publishing his own paper, in his case the Reno Weekly Record. After high school graduation he attended the University of Nevada and Stanford University.

     At Stanford, Mr. Levy edited the Chaparral, the campus humor magazine, and worked on the staffs of the school newspaper and yearbook. His Chaparral experience would would pay off later in his career, when Mr. Levy would prove a first-rate humor writer.

     His Stanford days included work on the now defunct Palo Alto Citizen. He then moved on to the United Press before joining The Oakland Tribune as a copy-reader in 1909. Soon came a stint as drama critic, then city editor and, finally, as managing editor.

    When Mr. Levy – and that is exactly what his staff called him, even in casual conversation – took charge of the editorial department in 1910, The Tribune's circulation was just under 50,000. Its circulation was generally confined to Oakland, Berkeley and Alameda.

     In Leo Levy's half century at the managing editor's helm, the circulation climbed to above 215,000 daily and some 245,000 on Sunday, with distribution throughout Northern California.

      The Tribune, in Mr. Levy's early days here, was located at Eighth and Franklin Streets, moving to the present 13th and Franklin location six years later. The newspaper was expanded with construction of the 20-story Tribune Tower.

     Joseph R. Knowland Sr., publisher of The Tribune, was in New York when word of Mr. Levy's death reached him "This is a great shock to me," he said. "Leo Levy was a valued employee of The Tribune when I became publisher in 1915. For more than a half century, he has given loyal and devoted service to his paper. All of his associates will greatly miss him."

      William F. Knowland, editor and assistant publisher of The Tribune, called Mr. Levy "one of the outstanding newspapermen in the nation. Since 1909, he contributed greatly to the growth of The Tribune from a small paper to a metropolitan daily. I shall miss him as a close personal friend."

     Joseph R. Knowland Jr., general manager and assistant publisher of The Tribune, called Mr. Levy's death "not only a terrific loss to The Tribune but to me personally as a friend.  Leo Levy was a wonderful newspaperman, and everyone in this institution shall miss him."

     Mr. Levy long was a member of the Associated Press Managing Editors Association, American Society of Newspaper Editors and Sigma Delta Chi, national professional journalism fraternity. He also was affiliated with B'nai B'rith, the San Francisco and Contra Costa Press Cubs and the Late Watch.

      A brother, the late Harold M. Levy, also was a member of the Tribune's editorial staff.

       Surviving Leo S. Levy are his wife, Evera, who at one time was associated with The Tribune; a son, Leo L., of Orinda; a grandson, Lance L. Blair, of Los Gatos; a brother, Paul M. Levy, of Santa Cruz; a niece, Mrs. Jean Scragow, of Flushing, N.Y., and a nephew, Harold Levy, Jr., of Chicago.

contributing J. Simmonds