Stephen K. Halpert ’55

Stephen K. Halpert ’55, of Portland, Me.; Jul. 13, from complications of pancreatic cancer. He served in the U.S. Air Force and, upon discharge, lived in Italy with his wife and children, working on his writing. After moving back to his hometown of Portland, he taught at Deering High School for several years and was a reporter for the Portland Press Herald. He also taught full-time at Westbrook Junior College-University of New England as chair of the English Department for more than 50 years, at Portland School of Art for many years, and at the University of Maine. While at Westbrook (UNE), he began exhibiting photographs featuring local artists, and in 2016 the Stephen K. Halpert Photography Collection was formed in the UNE Art Gallery. He curated three exhibitions in the past year at age 90. He had a passion for cinema that began at Brown and culminated in the purchase of The Movies on Exchange in 1979, where he and his wife showed art and repertory films until 2009. In addition, he owned and operated the Custom Shop, a custom drapery business founded in 1935. He was active in many organizations, including as president of the NAACP and the Baxter Society. He was a trustee of the Tidebrook Preserve in Freeport and coached Little League. He is survived by his wife, Judith Ann Venner; four children; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; a sister; and many nieces and nephews.