Remembering Harris Levinson: A Founding Elder

Educator. Mentor. Best Friend to Many.

Harris Levinson had a gift: he made everyone around him feel like they were his best friend. And somehow, it was always true.

When Journeymen began its journey in late 2016, we sought wisdom keepers: elders who embodied deep presence, generosity, and the natural gift of mentorship. Harris was among the first we called upon. Of course he said yes. That was Harris.

A Bridge Across Generations

Harris taught our co-founders Alex and Nicky during their high school years at Vashon High School, where his unconventional approach to teaching Spanish, Drama and American Studies became legendary. His profound impact on that generation made him a natural choice for our Elder’s Council, where he became a founding member and helped lay the bedrock of our transformational work.

Harris, shown here holding the Journeymen talking stick, shares a story during one of our first public offerings in 2017, a Rites of Passage leadership training featuring Dr. Arne Rubinstein of Australia.

Drawing from decades of experience as an educator and outdoor enthusiast, Harris connected us to the broader community, recruiting mentors, participants, families, and staff who would become essential to our mission. He attended every training he could, bringing both the levity that made hard conversations possible and the depth that made them meaningful.

As an elder, Harris served as a guiding light for our founders, field staff, and volunteers. The Elder's Council met regularly to examine issues beyond any individual's capacity: radical equity, repair, community accountability, and the elusive definition of elderhood itself. In these moments, Harris's gift for holding paradox shone through, typically accompanied by his signature furrowed-brow focus.

Holding Sacred Space

During our rites of passage experiences, Harris held compassionate space for aspiring young men to examine their lives, their choices, and their purpose. He affirmed them in anchoring their claiming statements: declarations that would guide them through the next chapter of their life story.

"Combing through our photo albums, Harris often shows up like this: present, focused, and somehow making the moment more luminous without needing to be at its center."

It's rare for someone who dedicates decades to education to continue volunteering in that same capacity after moving on, as Harris did from his VHS role in 2017. But Harris wasn't just any educator. As another member of our elder’s council remarked,

“Harris had a way of making you feel like whatever you were interested in was the coolest thing in the world”.

That gift, combined with steadfast consistency and unwavering curiosity, is what made Harris life-changing for so many.

A Life Fully Lived

Harris brought an extraordinary range to every moment: a loving intensity when depth was needed, playful levity when spirits needed lifting, and consistent curiosity that made everyone feel seen and valued. Whether leading rock climbing at SOTA, sharing trail stories from his latest Sierra adventure, or taking the mic at open mic night, Harris reminded us that life was meant to be lived fully.

His love of the outdoors aligned perfectly with our nature-based approach. Harris understood that the wilderness outside reflects the wilderness within, both worthy of exploration, both capable of profound beauty. He helped our young men understand this too, not through lectures but through lived example and story.

Continuing His Legacy

Harris's impact on Journeymen and the countless young people he mentored cannot be measured. He helped us understand that true elderhood isn't about age; it's about presence, about showing up fully for the next generation, about creating space for young people to discover their gifts.

As we continue our mission to guide boys and young men to define their core values, discover their unique gifts and thrive through mentorship, we carry Harris's spirit forward in every rite of passage, every circle, every trail we walk together. His laughter echoes in our circles. His wisdom guides our decisions. His fierce love for youth continues through us and our work that he championed since the beginning.

The mountains called to Harris, and on June 23, he answered that call one final time on the John Muir Trail. It feels right that his last steps were taken in the wilderness he loved so deeply.

Upon request from his family, donations in Harris’ honor may be made to Journeymen supporting scholarships for youth with limited financial means to attend our transformational camps and rites of passage experiences.

If you have a story, photo or other memory about Harris you'd like to share, please feel free to send to info@journeymen.us.

Remembering Harris Levinson: A Founding Elder

By Journeymen | One Village

Remembering Harris Levinson: A Founding Elder

Educator. Mentor. Best Friend to Many.