WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – On Dec. 21, Earl M. “Bud ” Isaacson, formerly of Lewiston and Naples, died peacefully in West Palm Beach, Fla., following recuperation from surgery two weeks ago.

Born in Lewiston, the son of Essie and Sam Isaacson, Earl attended Lewiston schools and the Wilbraham Academy in Wilbraham, Mass., as well as the University of Miami. He married Marilyn Feldman in October of 1950.

Earl was a respected businessman, owning Caribou Surplus and Caribou Scrap yard shortly after marrying. Later he moved back to Lewiston where he owned and operated Sharlaine, Star Shoe, Benjamin Isaacson Company and Bargain Outlet. He was a partner in R.I. Mitchell and Consumer Auto Parts, as well as in Cornerbrook Foundry and Transport Limited in Newfoundland, Canada.

With his daughter Janet, he owned the Etc. Shoppe, and was partners with his son Rick in Isabel’s Etc., and Dextelle International in West Palm Beach. Earl built low-income housing for the elderly in both Lewiston and Waterville, and owned real estate, including property that he donated to Temple Shalom Synagogue. He served on the building committee there, and continued membership in the Beth Jacob Synagogue. Earl was a past president of the Lewiston-Auburn Jewish Community Center. Earl loved the company of family and friends. He thoroughly enjoyed golf, travel, and reading, and was well known for his sense of humor, infectious laugh and flair for fashion. He adored his children and grandchildren, who were fortunate enough to enjoy his unusual generosity. He took tremendous pleasure in opening both his lake home in Maine and his Florida home for them and their friends.

Earl is survived by: his wife Marilyn; sister Natalie, and her husband, Arthur Woolf; children, Rick and Danika Isaacson, Sheri and Jeff Allen, Lori Rifkin, and Janet and Bill Hess. The grandchildren saddened by his loss include Sarah Allen, Marni and Corey Rifkin, Josh Hess, Zack and Nikki Hess and Desi Isaacson.