1930 – 2013

SCARBOROUGH — Edith Renard Nussinow, 83, of 14 Wakely Court, Portland, and formerly of Lewiston and Pompano Beach, Fla., passed peacefully Monday morning, Oct. 21, surrounded by her children at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House.

Born Edith Carolyn Renard on May 9, 1930, she was the youngest of four children born to Jacques and Jean Cohen Renard. Born and raised first in Boston, Mass., and then Beverly Hills, Calif., Edith or EC as she was best known, was educated in both Massachusetts and California schools, and attended classes at Katharine Gibbs College in Boston. She married the late Sheldon Allan Nussinow on Dec. 14, 1952, and began raising a family in Lewiston.

EC was very active in the local community and served in many leadership capacities in the Beth Jacob Sisterhood, the Jewish Community Center, Hadassah, B’nai B’rith Women and Temple Shalom. She was one of the founders of what is today the Temple Shalom Nursery School, an extraordinary organization that thrives because of her vision, tenacity and commitment to its success.

She was an avid golfer, enjoyed playing bridge and competed at the highest levels in regional Mah Jongg tournaments. She was a very accomplished — yet humble — artist, having mastered multiple disciplines. Her singing voice was a product of her show business upbringing and added greatly to many holiday celebrations. She loved to entertain and was known to host many memorable events. EC was proudest of her friends, her children and her grandchildren.

Her sisters Winnie and Sylvia; her brother, Phillip; and her husband predeceased Edith. Her three children — her son, Scott and his wife, Amy, of Auburn; her daughter, Susan Teich and her husband, David, of Lewiston; and her son Todd, of Portland, survive her. Additionally, she is survived by eight grandchildren: Chad, Jennifer, Jacob, Jessica, Tyler, Tanner, Tucker and Talia.

Condolences and a video tribute may be accessed online at www.albert-burpee.com.