Debora (Smith) Chaiken

PORTLAND – Debora (Smith) Chaiken died on Sept. 25, 2023 in Portland, after a battle with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. She was 71.

Debbie was born Oct. 12, 1951 and grew up in Concord, Mass. She spent a couple of years in high school in Colleyville, Texas. Debbie graduated from the University of Maine in 1973 (as Debora Smith Swadell) with a degree in history. Debbie went to work in banking in Bangor, becoming a regional vice president and compliance officer for Depositors’ Trust of Eastern Maine (now KeyBank). She later returned to UMaine for an accounting degree.

After several years as a homemaker, Debbie and her daughter, Emma, entered James F. Doughty Middle School at the same time- Emma as a 6th grader and Debbie as a part-time secretary. Debbie would remain after Emma moved on to high school, eventually retiring in 2013.

Debbie handmade Halloween, school musical and biography day costumes, and was the first to volunteer at her children’s schools. Debbie’s whistle could stop Alex in his tracks mid-soccer game or cut through the noise of a swim meet. Debbie was a favorite snack provider, with Congo bars and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies ready for every away game or meet. She did the accounting for the Maine State Soccer Association and worked with the Abenaki Girl Scouts.

Debbie loved knitting and making baskets at the beach, using lake water to soften the reeds. She loved photography, bringing Emma on photo safaris both local and far flung. She would pick a direction and go, seeing what her camera would find and singing along to favorite songs. She lovingly planned every vacation, from biannual Disney trips, to Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, Mexico, the Parade of Roses, and Hawaii. She made sure her family was there when Disney’s Animal Kingdom opened.

Debbie also loved the holidays. She kept count of all the trick or treaters at the door (often well over a thousand with children and adults), made impressive Thanksgiving spreads, and decorated for Christmas the Friday after Thanksgiving (not one moment earlier). She loved displaying her extensive Santa collection and making oyster stew on Christmas Eve, and would always be the first one up on Christmas morning with a freshly baked coffee cake.

Debbie filled her yard with gardens and flowers and could tell you exactly where the best greenhouses were. She took master gardening classes and could spend hours tending to her garden, until the neighborhood boys’ backyard golf association commandeered her favorite watering can. She could tell you when to expect birds by species at the feeder and brought that love to volunteer for Avian Haven as a transport driver.

Debbie enjoyed a good book, watching the Patriots, a glass of unsweetened iced tea and the company of good friends. She ran an unofficial library– complete with library cards. She felt life was too quiet without a dog.

Debbie is survived by her son, Alex Chaiken, and his wife Lauren Parker, and their dog Porkchop; daughter, Emma Chaiken and her husband Kristof Ladny, and their son Connor Ladny and dog Quincy; ex-husband, Paul Chaiken; brother, Michael Barros-Smith, his wife Pat, and their sons Ross and Tris.

She was predeceased by her parents Wallace and Rita Smith; her godmother, Ruth DiBonaventura; and dogs Morgan, Maddy, and Sadie.

The family thanks the care staff of Cedars Portland, who took such loving care of Debbie.

A private family gathering will occur at a later date. To offer condolences and share fond memories please visit http://www.brackettfh.com to view Debbie’s online memorial.

Donations can be made in lieu of flowers to CurePSP (https://www.psp.org/iwanttohelp/ways-to-give/) or Avian Haven (https://www.avianhaven.org/support.html).