Stephen E. Hirshon, 65
PORTLAND – Stephen E. Hirshon passed away on Dec. 1, 2017 at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough after a long illness.
Steve was the son of Howard and Rose (Isenman) Hirshon. He was born on June 27, 1952 in Portland. Steve and his family lived on Codman Street in Portland and enjoyed summers at their Old Orchard Beach cottage in the company of the other families there. Despite losing his parents when he was young (his mother when he was 13 and his father when he was 19), Steve became a strong presence in the city of Portland and lived a full and active life.
Steve graduated from Deering High School in 1970 and was president of his class. He attended the University of Houston and later the University of Southern Maine, where he began programming on the campus radio station. Steve continued to do volunteer radio work for several decades on WMPG and gained a large following of listeners for his insightful interviews and eclectic musical programming.
As a 1970s pioneer of Portland’s Old Port, Steve operated his business Seaport Tobacco in the Exchange building. He participated in the earliest Old Port Festivals, did some acting in community theatre, and was a familiar sight in Portland as he rode his bicycle year round wearing his signature aviator hat.
Beginning in 1987, Steve worked in financial services at Maine Securities Corporation where he used his expertise in investments to help clients with accounts large and small build financial stability. Throughout his life, people looked to Steve for advice in finance and many other areas. He held a wealth of knowledge and loved being involved in the community in various ways, such as leading the Bayside Neighborhood Association and Mt. Sinai Cemetery Association, and being involved with Etz Chaim Synagogue (and Maine Jewish Museum) and Jewish Family Services. Also, he was instrumental with such events as the Black Frame Art Sale and the Bayside World Market & Fair and was one of the original organizers of what became the Maine Community Foundation. Attending performances and art events of all kinds was a constant in his life.
He was a good friend and stayed close with former classmates, many of whom he knew starting in grade school. Duty, faith, and tradition were very important to him. Throughout his life, he attended services twice a week at Etz Chaim Synagogue and, in more recent years, once a week at Chabad services.
Steve is survived by his longtime companion, Colette Bouchard; his aunt Helen Isenman of Portland; and cousins Susan Isenman of Portland, Barry Isenman and Margaret Gavigan of Downers Grove, Ill., David Hirshon of Freeport, Robert and Roberta Hirshon of South Portland, Leslie and Lee Kress of Cherry Hill, N.J., Jonathan and Darlene Lepoff of North Monmouth, Ellie and Frank Filipetti of West Nyack, N.Y., Lizbeth Rea of Sanford, Karen Mack of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., and Elaine and Harvey Rudnick of Sharon, Mass. He is also survived by several second and third cousins.
Funeral service will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017 at 1 p.m. at Etz Chaim Synagogue, 267 Congress St., Portland, followed by a graveside service at Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Portland, followed by a gathering of prayer and remembrance at Etz Chaim Synagogue. Arrangements are by Portland Jewish Funeral Home.
Memorial gifts may be made to:
WMPG
96 Falmouth St.
Portland, ME 04104-9300, or
Etz Chaim Synagogue
267 Congress St.
Portland, ME 04101, or
Bayside Neighborhood Assoc.
P.O. Box 11563
Portland, ME 04104, or
Documenting Maine Jewry
c/o Temple Beth El
400 Deering Avenue
Portland, ME 04103