Gloria Levien

Gloria Anita Levien (née Siff) died peacefully at Maravilla on Wednesday, March 11, 2020 in Santa Barbara, California at the age of 94. Gloria was born November 5, 1925 in New York, N.Y. to Albert and Gertrude Siff. In 1946, she graduated from Barnard College phi beta kappa and magna cum laude, with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She married Maurice Levien, a civil engineer and a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army during WW II, after his return from military service. They lived in New York City for a few years and then moved to Long Island to raise their two boys, David and Philip, moving first to Glen Cove and then to Roslyn. After their sons went off to college, they moved back to Manhattan, where they lived for many years on Sutton Place. Gloria moved to Santa Barbara in 2013, living at Maravilla the entire time.

In addition to raising a family, Gloria worked at Town and Country Magazine, Clocktower Realty, and McMillan Publishing (Subsidiary Rights). She did volunteer work at The United Nations and taught reading to disadvantaged children. She also volunteered at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Gloria is survived by her children David (Merril) and Philip (Darlene); grandchildren Michael (Suchi), William (Brooke), Rachel (Frank DiStefano), Josh (Simone), and Katie (Jason Babineau); and great grandchildren Kai, Finn, Paxton, Stokely, and Asha. Gloria was preceded in death by her husband, Maurice Levien, and her brother, Andrew Siff.

Memorial contributions can be made to Alzheimer’s Association or Barnard College, in memory of Gloria A. Levien. The family would like to thank the staff at Maravilla Senior Living, Assisted Hospice Care, and Nancy (Dhyana) Kuta for their care and dedication to Gloria.