BIOGRAPHY

LeVan was born in Franklin Township, Carbon County, Pennsylvania, USA, on 3 September 1908, to parents Arthur B. Le Van (1884–1976) and Margaret Schweitzer (1885–1977). She had two younger siblings: Malvern Arthur LeVan (1912–2011) and Ethel M. Schuetz. She was raised in Hartford, Connecticut.

In 1936, she received a Bachelor of Arts degree as a member of the inaugural graduating class at the University of Saint Joseph, where she served as the president and pianist for the Glee Club. She went on to get a Master of Arts degree from Trinity College and a Master of Education degree from the University of Hartford. Additionally, she pursued further graduate studies at Southern University of Connecticut and the Gesell Institute in New Haven.

A dedicated educator, she spent the first 25 years of her career at Berlin High School, where she taught a diverse range of subjects, including English, French, Latin, American History, and Problems of Democracy. Additionally, she instructed Psychology at the College of New Britain and provided training to psychology interns at Fairfield University. Starting in the late 1950s and continuing until her retirement in 1973, she held various roles within the Meriden School System, serving as Dean of Girls, School Psychologist, and Director of Pupil Personnel.

Some of her hobbies included painting, writing, and reading poetry. She was a passionate musician, briefly serving as a church organist and a pianist in a jazz band. Throughout her life, she traveled extensively, visiting destinations such as Europe, South America, New Zealand, Egypt, Alaska, and Hawaii.

LeVan passed away in Meriden, Connecticut, USA, on 29 August 2019, five days shy of her 111th birthday.

RECOGNITION

In 2016, she received recognition for her 70 years of active membership and leadership from Soroptimist International of the Americas, a service organization committed to improving the lives of women and girls. In 2018, she was recognized by the South Congregational Church as their longest living member, having joined in 1924.

Her age was validated by LongeviQuest on 29 October 2023.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Marie Arlene LeVan” – Find A Grave

* “Marie Arlene LeVan” – Rose Hill Funeral Home

* “Meriden super centenarian’s extraordinary life remembered” – Record-Journal, 6 September 2019

GALLERY