1923 – 2003

PORTLAND-Stella K. Doukas of Lewiston, 79, died Friday morning at Maine Medical Center following a brief illness.

She was born on Dec. 1, 1923 in Lewiston, the daughter of the late Peter Doukas and Katherine Byzandakos Doukas, both of whom emigrated to Lewiston from Greece.

She was a vibrant woman of many talents, an accomplished professional, and a loving and devoted member of her family, circle of friends and community. She graduated at the age of 16 from Lewiston H. S. and later was awarded a music scholarship to St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y., where she majored in theology and minored in music.

She also studied voice at the Crane Music College at Potsdam, N.Y. A talented and accomplished vocalist, she performed throughout the northeast, including Carnegie Hall, and as a concert contralto soloist under director Robert Shaw.

Her compassion and empathy for people led her to enter the Boston University School of Social Work, where she earned her Masters of Social Work. She completed her clinical internship in psychiatric social work at the Judge Baker Guidance Center in Boston, Mass., in 1954.

For the next 30 years, she practiced clinical psychiatric social work at Family Services Association of Greater Boston, where she became District Director for the area that included East Boston, Downtown and Beacon Hill. She was a clinical assistant professor at the B.U. School of Social Work. She served as a liaison between Family Services Association and area hospitals, clinics and mental health organizations.

She later shifted her focus to the care of the elderly and became Chair of the Department of Elder Services at Family Services, one of the first geriatric programs in the country. She received an Award for Exceptional Services from Massachussets Governor Michael Dukakis as a result of her significant contributions to mental health and social services. She was frequently sought for commentary by leading regional and national publications regarding issues relating to marriage counseling and family therapy.

After retiring to Maine in 1985, she resumed her involvement with her hometown church, the Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity, in Lewiston. She served as a reader and a chanter, and was a devoted volunteer for the numerous projects of the church.

She is survived by her niece, Ann Robinson, of Portland (formerly of Lewiston); two nephews, Peter Robinson of Vienna, Va., and Stephen Dukas of Brevard, N.C.; and two cousins, Diana Murray, of N.Y.C. and Nancy Steen, of Huntington, Long Island, N.Y.

She was predeceased by a sister, Maria Doukas Robinson of Lewiston; and two brothers, Steve Dukas of Daytona, Fla. and Peter Doukas of Lewiston.