Publisher Hugh Lauter Levin died on January 9. He was 72.
Levin served as a v-p at Abrams Books, then Harry N. Abrams, Inc., from 1973 to 1984, when he left to launch his own publishing company, Hugh Lauter Levin Associates. HLLA, which was based in Westport, Conn., and specialized in illustrated books, published more than 250 books on art, photography, military history, and Judaica before its acquisition, by Rizzoli, in 2007.
Since the sale of HLLA, Levin worked as a publishing consultant for companies including Baker & Taylor, Ingram Content Group, Piccadilly Publishing, and Skyhorse, and wrote a series of joke books for children. In 2023, Levin was named a Chevalier de L'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, one of the highest civilian honors awarded by the French government, which honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the fields of arts, literature, or culture.
Levin, the son of the late publishing executive and M&A guru Martin Levin, is survived by his wife, Cynthia; a son, Lucas, and daughter-in-law, Veena; a grandson, Ashton; a brother, Jeremy; a sister, Wendy Newby, and brother-in-law, Gordon Newby.