Stephen Lewis Levine died on April 26, 2023 at Maine Medical Center atg the age of 82. He was born in Portland, Maine on November 19, 1940, the son of Maurice and Pearl Kaufman Levine.
Steve attended Portland schools and later graduated from the Tilton School in Tilton, New Hampshire. Steve began his college education at Johns Hopkins University. He transferred to Bentley University and graduated with a degree in accounting.
Steve served in the Maine Air National Guard and was stationed with the 265th Radio Relay Squadron in South Portland.
Steve met his wife, Cecelia (Chichi) Wiener, at Old Orchard Beach during the summer of 1959. They were married on November 2, 1963. They lived in Portland, Maine for 43 years before moving to Gorham 16 years ago.
Steve worked at Freeport Shoe Company until the company closed in 1972. He then worked at Loree Shoe in Freeport as the Assistant Superintendent. Sensing that the shoe industry in Maine was failing, Steve went to work at Associated Hospital Services of Maine, the local Blue Cross Blue Shield administrator, as an Accounting Systems Analyst. While at AHS, Steve was part of the team that automated all of the accounting functions. In 1981, Steve went to work at Bath Iron Works, Bath Maine, as a Systems Analyst. In 1983 Steve installed the first IBM PC at BIW. This led to a long career of installing PCs, servers, networks, multiprotocol routers and later networking all BIW’s facilities in Bath and Brunswick to the internet. In 1996 BIW outsourced its Systems Division to Computer Sciences Corporation. Steve continued working at CSC as Senior Member Tech Support until he retired in 2000.
Steve had several part time jobs after he retired, ending with the Census 2010 where he canvassed local neighborhoods as part of the census clean-up crew. In 2011 after Steve lost his left leg to cancer, he became a Certified Peer Visitor mentoring recent amputees to their new life. Steve was dedicated to going to the gym three times a week to maintain his strength.
Steve was a lifelong member of Temple Beth El in Portland where he served as a board member for 40 years, including several terms as secretary and later as treasurer. He was also on the board of The Cedars for many years where he served as treasurer and emeritus board member.
Steve is survived by his wife of 59 years, Chichi Levine; his son, David Levine and his wife Elizabeth Andersen and his grandson Benjamin Levine of Portland, Maine; his sister-in-law, Linda Levine of Saco Maine; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 28, 2023 at 11:00 am at Temple Beth El, 400 Deering Avenue, Portland, Maine. Interment will follow at Beth El Memorial Park on Johnson Road in Portland. Shiva, the Jewish period of mourning will be Sunday, April 30, 2023 at his residence in Gorham.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Amputee Coalition, 900 East Hill Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37915 or the charity of your choice.