Shirley Levine

Shirley was born August 7, 1922 in Bangor, ME to Morris and Annie Spector. A few years later, her family moved to Andover, MA where she lived until the 5th grade. Shirley’s brother, Sherman David Spector, was born in 1927 and the family moved to Portland, ME. She attended Emerson School and then Portland High School where she graduated in 1940.

She attended the University of Maine for her freshman year of college, and then her family relocated to Manchester, NH. She completed her degree at UNH and then taught school in Kezar Falls, ME for a year.

Shirley loved to sing and performed in several stage productions. At one show in August of 1945, at the Jewish Community Center, her future husband – Sidney Levine – was in the audience with his sister Ethel Levine, He asked “Who is that beautiful girl on stage?”

Sidney invited her out and their first date was to see Glen Miller in Old Orchard Beach. On the way, he bought her some cherries! After a brief engagement, Shirley and Sidney married on December 26, 1945, in the Boston, MA area.

The Levines lived in Portland, Maine, and they opened the Kiddie Korner on High Street. Later, the business moved to 617 Congress Street and finally to 569 Congress St. where it was eventually called Youth World. Shirley returned to full time elementary school teaching in the 1960’s at Hall School in Portland to provide the funds needed to help pay for college educations.

Shirley and Sidney spent a number of years in Delray Beach Florida after Youth World was sold but after Sidney’s death in 1999, Shirley decided to return home to Maine to be around her closest friends for the remainder of her life.

Shirley enjoyed musicals, tennis, golf, painting, and she was a long time suffering Red Sox fan.

Shirley is survived by her son Mark (Chick) Levine, MD (wife – Sharon) of South Portland, Daughter Linda Angelone of South Portland, her Grandchildren Aaron Levine (wife – Annie) of Portland and Mandy Levine of Cumberland, her Great Grandchildren Olive Rose Levine of Portland, Clay Felix Levine of Portland, Sydney Dalia Rosenfeld of Cumberland, and Lilah Ruth Rosenfeld of Cumberland.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00 P.M. on Wednesday April 25, 2018 in the Temple Beth El 400 Deering Avenue Portland, Maine. Interment will follow at Beth El Memorial Park in Portland, Maine. On-line condolences can be given to the family at www.jonesrichandbarnes.com.

In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:

JCA Portland, c/o Temple Beth El

400 Deering Avenue,

Portland, Maine 04103