PORTLAND – Sumner T. Bernstein, one of Maine’s most prominent lawyers, died June 25 of complications from prostate cancer. He was 78. Bernstein, who was known for his public and professional service, began practicing law in his father’s and uncle’s law firm, Bernstein & Bernstein, in 1949 when it had just three lawyers. The firm, now called Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson, grew into one of the state’s largest and now has more than 70 lawyers.

He was a past president of the Maine State Bar Association, the Maine Bar Foundation, Temple Beth El and the Jewish Federation of Southern Maine. He served on numerous boards, was a member of the Portland City Council and was a strong supporter of the state of Israel, which he visited 14 times.