Shirlee J. Smolin

Shirlee Jean (Levin) Smolin, age 96, of Springettsbury Township, passed away at UPMC Memorial Hospital on January 15, 2022. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, friend and much much more.
Shirlee was born in Muscatine Iowa on May 14, 1925 to the late Albert and Pauline (Steele) Levin. She attended the University of Iowa, where she met her husband, the late Dr. Edwin M. Smolin, after his return from WWII service in Europe. She graduated from Iowa with a bachelor's degree in Speech Pathology and went on to earn a master's degree from William Paterson College in the same field. Shirlee and Ed started their married life together in Connecticut in 1948, where at the time, she was the only speech therapist in the state. Throughout her career and relocations to Ohio, PA, and NJ, she worked to improve the speech and language skills of thousands of children in the public school system. She was the first in her family to get a college education and the emphasis she placed on education throughout life is reflected in her entire family.
She lived to travel and during her lifetime visited 65 countries, some multiple times. Until her final few days, she lived independently and stayed physically active and socially engaged by attending aerobics classes at the JCC five days a week, taking OLLI adult education classes every semester, and participating in a woman's stock investment club. Her last 45 years were spent in York County, which she always considered the best place she ever lived. She honored the York Community with service as a docent at the York Historical Society, volunteering in the gift shop at Memorial Hospital, ushering at the Belmont Theater, serving on the board of Jewish Family Services and performing for church groups and nursing homes with The Readers Theater troupe. She had a remarkably sharp mind, unending intellectual curiosity and interest in world events. She was active in the American Association of University Women and the League of Women Voters and always advocated for what she thought was right and just. As a first generation daughter of immigrant parents and the widow of a WWII combat veteran, she fully embraced the American dream and did all she could to stand up for it.
She is survived by her three children Dr. Michael F. Smolin and his wife Barbara Schreiber of Tucson, AZ, Dr. Lori A. Smolin and her husband Dr. David Knecht of Storrs, CT, Dr. Gregory J. Smolin and companion Dr. Marlys Pike of York, PA, five grandchildren; Ariella Smolin (Colorado), Dr. Zachary Knecht (Massachusetts), Max Knecht (London, England), Benjamin Smolin (Philadelphia), and Madeline Smolin (Columbia, PA); and one great grandchild, Theodore (Massachusetts).
Shirlee was a woman ahead of her time who left a path of admiration and respect in her wake to all whose lives she touched. A long life well lived
Funeral services and Interment at Arlington National Cemetery will be held privately by the family under the direction of Beck Funeral Home & Cremation Service Inc., of East York.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the The York Jewish Community Center (yorkjcc.org/), The Lancaster Conservancy (lancasterconservancy.org), or a charity of your choice.
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