Irving William Westerman

Irving William Westerman passed away on August 20, 2026 at his residence in Sarasota, Florida. Born in Boston, MA, he was the son of the late Israel (Izzy) and Sarah (Sadie) Westerman. Irv's wife of 62 years, Lenore (Cookie) Westerman (nee Meyers), proceeded him in 2017. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Sharon Westerman of Colorado; son Philip Westerman and daughter-in-law Paulette Kessler-Westerman of Florida, and son Steven Westerman of Pennsylvania, five grandsons, a grand daughter-in-law and a great-grand daughter. He is also survived by a sister-in-law, and two brothers-in-law, as well as thirteen nieces and nephews, their spouses and children and many, many cousins, colleagues, friends, and former students.

Irving graduated from Boston’s Roxbury Memorial High School class of 1950. A decorated United States Navy veteran, Irv participated in combat action during the Korean War as a Quartermaster/Helmsman/Signalman aboard the destroyer USS Cotten and subsequently circumnavigated the globe while aboard the Cotten. Irving was a Life Member of the Jewish War Veterans of the USA, Drizin-Weiss Post 215, Phila., PA. Following his service discharge and marriage to Lenore, Irving attended Temple University in Philadelphia via the GI Bill, taking classes at night and graduating in only three-years! 

With a Bachelor of Science in Education, Irv set out on a 40-year career as a pioneer in the developing field of Special Education, the last 25-years of which were at Cheltenham High School. In 1992, Irving was voted the “Pennsylvania Special Education Teacher of the Year” by the Pennsylvania Counsel for Exceptional Children, the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving the success of children with disabilities. Beginning in 1961 and continuing for the next 16-years, each summer Irv worked at ten different overnight summer camps in Pennsylvania, New York and New Hampshire. During these summers he advanced from Head Counselor, to Cook, then Steward and finally as Administrator. Then in 1978, Irv combined his talents in Special Education and summer camp administration with four consecutive summers at Camp Sun Mountain in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains. Under Irving’s direction Camp Sun Mountain specialized in overnight recreation for mentally and multiply handicapped client-campers ranging in age from six- to 106-years old.

Family and friends are invited to funeral services Monday, August 24, 2026, 12:00pm at Joseph Levine & Sons, 4737 Street Road, Trevose, PA. Services to be webcast at https://www.levinefuneral.com/trevose-webcam.html. Interment at Har Jehuda Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in the name of “Irving Westerman” may be made to Special Olympics of Pennsylvania (www.specialolympicspa.org).

Arrangements by Joseph Levine & Sons