Benjamin Levin, 86, pharmacist, businessman

Benjamin Levin, a retired Dundalk pharmacist and Baltimore area businessman, died of heart failure Sunday while spending the summer with family members in St. Paul, Minn. He was 86 and lived in Gulfport, Fla.

A former resident of Dundalk and Pikesville, Mr. Levin retired 30 years ago as owner of Stansbury Pharmacy in Dundalk. A photographer, he opened Stansbury Photo and Stereo Center, a business with branches in Dundalk, Joppatowne and Baltimore's Reisterstown Road Plaza and Mondawmin shopping center.

Born in Baltimore and raised on Madison Avenue, he was a 1932 graduate of Forest Park High School. He earned a degree from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy in 1936.

He had earlier worked at the old Baltimore City Hospitals and U.S. Marine Hospital in Wyman Park, MacGillivray's in Mount Vernon and the Tuxedo pharmacy in Roland Park.

During World War II, he was a pharmacist's mate in the merchant marine.

In retirement, he took writing courses, and enjoyed writing poetry and political satire. He wrote his memoirs.

He was a member of Temple Oheb Shalom.

Services were held yesterday.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, the former Bette Sandler; two sons, Aaron Levin of Baltimore and Robert Levin of Burnsville, N.C.; a daughter, Judith Levin Marshall of St. Paul; and four grandchildren.