But it was not until Levis joined the fencing team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1922 that he began to develop the skills that would lead him to greatness.

Often during his career, Levis credited US Hall of Fame fencer George C. Calnan, his teammate at MIT, as his greatest influence and most important teacher.

On June 17, 1954, at the age of 48 and 16 years after last competing in a major competition, Levis won his ninth and last AFLA National Championship in the individual foil class.

After his final retirement from competitive fencing in 1955, Levis dedicated himself to what he loved most, teaching and developing young fencers, especially, at his alma mater.

Until he was in his late eighties, he would spend many hours each week assisting the coaching staff at MIT in the training of its fencers.

He also became very proficient in ballroom dancing, winning with his wife, Yvonne, scores of amateur championships in his age class throughout the United States and Canada.

Levis' oldest son, Robert, is also an Olympian fencer, having competed in the 1972 Munich Olympics representing Puerto Rico.