MILDRED SHENKAN STEIN

Mildred Shenkan Stein

Of Sarasota, Fla. died on Monday, October 15, 2018. She was the widow of Donald Stein, the daughter of Eva and Louis Shenkan of Pittsburgh, Pa. and the sister of Bertha Topkis and Marshall Shenkan, all of whom predeceased her. Born in Pittsburgh, Mrs. Stein was a graduate of The Ursuline Academy there and a member of one of the first graduating classes of the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Fla. She resided in Canton, Ohio for more than 70 years. Since 1960, the Steins had split their time between Canton and Longboat Key, Fla. Mrs. Stein was most recently a resident of Plymouth Harbor in Sarasota. A supporter of the arts in Sarasota, Mrs. Stein enjoyed attending performances of the symphony, ballet, opera, Asolo Theatre, Florida Studio Theatre and at the Van Wezel Auditorium. She also generously supported local organizations and institutions including the Mote Marina, where she served as a volunteer for many years; the New College Foundation; Sarasota Memorial Hospital; Florida Studio Theater; Ringling Museum; Hadassah and Jewish Family & Children's Services of Sarasota-Manatee. She was a founding member of Beth Israel Temple of Longboat Key and was a Lion of Judah with the Jewish Federations of Sarasota and Canton.

A lifelong athlete and physical fitness devotee, Mrs. Stein was a standout high school basketball player. She mastered tennis and golf as a young woman and spent many years playing both. She won several golf championships throughout the years at the Arrowhead Country Club in Canton, Ohio where she and her husband were founding members. She continued to play golf at the Longboat Key Club into her 90s. The Steins also loved to travel and took many trips throughout the world. For a time, she worked for a travel agency as a guide for tour groups, traveling to Africa, South America and Europe.

From a musical family, Mrs. Stein passed on her love of music to all four of her children. She had a beautiful lyric soprano voice and often performed in concerts, musical theatre productions and with the Canton Civic Opera. She also appeared in plays at the Canton Players Guild. Mrs. Stein was an active community volunteer in Canton. She was the first female president of the Canton Symphony Association. She served as president of the McDowell Music Club, the Temple Israel Sisterhood and the Canton Chapter of Brandeis University Women. She also served on the board of the Canton Art Institute. In Canton, the Steins also supported Walsh University, the Canton Jewish Community Center and Aultman Hospital, where she did volunteer work.

She is survived by a daughter, Karen Stein Diamond (Dr. Clark White) of Chattanooga, Tenn.; and sons, Jon (Paula) Stein of Sarasota; Loel (Ellen) Stein of Canton; and David Andrew (Zenia) Stein of San Jose, Costa Rica and Sarasota; grandchildren, Sara (Michael) Patterson of Knoxville, Tenn; Sam Diamond of Chattanooga, April (Michael) Vogley of Canton; Loel (April) Stein, Jr. of Canton; and Lesley Stein of Washington, DC. She took great pleasure in her great-grandchildren Caitlin Patterson; Jakob, Alexis and Max Vogley; Olivia Diamond; Dylan and Savannah Stein.

Funeral services will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a favorite charity.

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