He married Sophie. They had three children: Alan, Lana and David.
Mr. Leavitt's life was an American success story, taking him from Suwalk, Russia to Ellis Island in 1921 at the age of 16 and to an early struggle for survival on the Lower East Side. He swept floors and, while still in his teens, worked his way up to a clerk's and interpreter's job at the Public National Bank and Trust Company.
He attended New York Law School at night, completing the course work but never going into practice. Instead, he and his wife, Sophie, opened an apparel store in 1934 in Hanover, Pa., and the business soon grew into a chain of a dozen shops.
After World War II, the couple advertised their better merchandise in magazines and entered the fairly new medium of specialty catalogues, which they mailed out under the chain's name, Lana Lobell. More catalogues were added in the 1960's, and by 1972 the Leavitts had almost 2,000 employees. They sold the business in 1972 to the Horn & Hardart Company and retired a few years later, after which Mr. Leavitt devoted his time to art collecting, investments and philanthropy. The business later became known as Hanover Direct.
He was a collector of contemporary art seen in museums throughout the country. He lived in Palm Beach.
Mr. Leavitt's life was an American success story, taking him from Suwalk, Russia to Ellis Island in 1921 at the age of 16 and to an early struggle for survival on the Lower East Side. He swept floors and, while still in his teens, worked his way up to a clerk's and interpreter's job at the Public National Bank and Trust Company.
He attended New York Law School at night, completing the course work but never going into practice. Instead, he and his wife, Sophie, opened an apparel store in 1934 in Hanover, Pa., and the business soon grew into a chain of a dozen shops.
After World War II, the couple advertised their better merchandise in magazines and entered the fairly new medium of specialty catalogues, which they mailed out under the chain's name, Lana Lobell. More catalogues were added in the 1960's, and by 1972 the Leavitts had almost 2,000 employees. They sold the business in 1972 to the Horn & Hardart Company and retired a few years later, after which Mr. Leavitt devoted his time to art collecting, investments and philanthropy. The business later became known as Hanover Direct.
He was a collector of contemporary art seen in museums throughout the country. He lived in Palm Beach.
He married Sophie. They had three children: Alan, Lana and David.
Mr. Leavitt's life was an American success story, taking him from Suwalk, Russia to Ellis Island in 1921 at the age of 16 and to an early struggle for survival on the Lower East Side. He swept floors and, while still in his teens, worked his way up to a clerk's and interpreter's job at the Public National Bank and Trust Company.
He attended New York Law School at night, completing the course work but never going into practice. Instead, he and his wife, Sophie, opened an apparel store in 1934 in Hanover, Pa., and the business soon grew into a chain of a dozen shops.
After World War II, the couple advertised their better merchandise in magazines and entered the fairly new medium of specialty catalogues, which they mailed out under the chain's name, Lana Lobell. More catalogues were added in the 1960's, and by 1972 the Leavitts had almost 2,000 employees. They sold the business in 1972 to the Horn & Hardart Company and retired a few years later, after which Mr. Leavitt devoted his time to art collecting, investments and philanthropy. The business later became known as Hanover Direct.
He was a collector of contemporary art seen in museums throughout the country. He lived in Palm Beach.
Mr. Leavitt's life was an American success story, taking him from Suwalk, Russia to Ellis Island in 1921 at the age of 16 and to an early struggle for survival on the Lower East Side. He swept floors and, while still in his teens, worked his way up to a clerk's and interpreter's job at the Public National Bank and Trust Company.
He attended New York Law School at night, completing the course work but never going into practice. Instead, he and his wife, Sophie, opened an apparel store in 1934 in Hanover, Pa., and the business soon grew into a chain of a dozen shops.
After World War II, the couple advertised their better merchandise in magazines and entered the fairly new medium of specialty catalogues, which they mailed out under the chain's name, Lana Lobell. More catalogues were added in the 1960's, and by 1972 the Leavitts had almost 2,000 employees. They sold the business in 1972 to the Horn & Hardart Company and retired a few years later, after which Mr. Leavitt devoted his time to art collecting, investments and philanthropy. The business later became known as Hanover Direct.
He was a collector of contemporary art seen in museums throughout the country. He lived in Palm Beach.
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