Monday, April 6, 2009
When I read about Jackson's death in this morning's paper, a flood of warm memories hit me. Although we have lost touch in recent years, my memories of him go back to my childhood. My father, Sam Levin, was the owner of grocery stores (J&S Market on Scott Street and Colonial Super Market in Colonial Heights)in which Jackson had worked as a young man. Jackson would make sure that he kept in touch with my father, a man whom he called his "Jewish father". I remeber that each Christmas Jackson would come to the store, (then on Lancaster Avenue) and hug my father and they would exchange good wishes for the future. As a salesman for the Yardstick, a drapery business, Jackson sold my mother and others in our family, drapes. As I grew up, he called me and my brothers Happy Harry and Sidney Levin, his "jewish brothers" and we continued a friendship that had started with my family 60 years ago. Later when I became a lawyer, I would see Jackson, either as a constable or as Judge Poppitti's bailiff. We would reminisce and I always knew that our affection for one another was real and sincere. I will miss my brother. I know you all have lost a wonderful person and roll model. May he rest in peace. Richard Levin
