Obituary of Abe Lavine

ALBANY – Abe Lavine, 93, died at Daughters of Sarah Nursing Home, on June 8, 2016. Son of Ephraim and Tina Lavine, Abe was born on September 19, 1922, grew up in his beloved hamlet of Little Utica, near Lysander, New York, and graduated from Phoenix High School. Abe finished college at Berkeley, served in the Philippines and Japan at the end of World War II, and earned a Masters Degree from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University. In 1974, Abe was named one of Maxwell School’s top 25 graduates during a 50th anniversary celebration of the school. The recognition was based on Abe’s long and distinguished career in New York State government, where he served as the first director of the Office of Employee Relations, and later as Commissioner of Social Services. He also led the Jewish Childcare Association. He loved golf, gardening, talking politics, and most of all his family. Abe is survived by Sophie Lavine, his loving wife for 69 years; his daughter, Judy (Richard) Doling and son, Howard, granddaughters, Amy Doling and Rachel (Joel) Shapiro; and great-grandchildren, Molly, Cooper and Leah Shapiro, as well as nieces and nephews. The family wishes to offer their profound thanks to all of the staff of the Blue Unit at Daughters of Sarah who cared for Abe for almost two years, kept a smile on his face, and respectfully called him The Commissioner. Services will be held at the Levine Memorial Chapel. 649 Washington Avenue Albany on Tuesday, June 14, 2016 at 11:00am. Interment will follow in the Temple Israel Cemetery in Guilderland, NY. Relatives and friends may call at the Doling residence. 4 Niblick Place in Latham, NY on Tuesday at 7:00pm Memorial contributions to Alzheimer’s Association, Northeastern New York Chapter, 4 Pine West Plaza, Suite 405, Albany, New York 12205 or Daughters of Sarah Senior Community, 180 Washington Avenue Ext., Albany, NY 12203 will be appreciated.