BANGOR – Friends, colleagues and admirers are invited to join Kay Lebowitz at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 30 at City Council chambers in City Hall to celebrate her 90th birthday. Mayor Frank Farrington will issue a proclamation designating June 30 as Kay’s Day.

Lebowitz was born in 1915 in Winchester, Mass, the daughter of Carolyn Kistinger Koch and William John Koch. Her father wanted to move to Maine in 1920. Mrs. Koch said, “I’ll go if you can find a place with running water and a bathroom.” The family moved to Searsport. Lewbowitz graduated from Belfast High School in 1931 at age 15, then took a job as a Works Progress Administration clerk. In 1948 she became president of the National Secretary’s Association, Boston Chapter. She served as president of the Bangor Chapter in the 1950s.

Lebowitz moved to Bangor in 1953 and worked for Coffin-Wimple. From 1962 to 1979, she served as clerk of the U.S. District Court in Bangor. She was president of the Bangor Savoyards and Bangor Community Theater 1955-1956 and produced shows for both groups.

She served on several boards and committees: Bangor Museum and Center for History president; United Way of Penobscot Valley, St. Joseph Hospital building committee and auxiliary, Maine Development Foundation, University of Maine Apple Awards theater judge, Republican National Convention delegate 1984 and 1988, Penobscot Theatre, Bangor Chamber of Commerce, Penobscot County Extension Service, Bangor Republican Club, Zonta Club president, Bangor Symphony Women, Rural Health Care Centers of Maine, Bangor City Hospital Auxiliary, Community Health and Counseling Services Aftercare Program, Bangor District Nursing Association, Eastern Maine Technical College, University of Maine Center for the Arts advisory board, and National Association of Retired Federal Employees.

Lebowitz served five terms as a representative to the Maine State Legislature, 1982-1992, and two terms on the Bangor City Council, 1985-1987. She also was an RSVP volunteer at the Building block child care center where she read to children.

She received an honorary degree in secretarial science from Husson College in 1980; the Bangor Chamber of Commerce Paul Bunyan Award in 1997; Merrill Merchants Bank Community Spirit Award, Senior Star Recognition, 1999; an honorary associate degree in liberal studies from Eastern Maine Technical College in 2003; and was EMTC commencement speaker in 2004.

Lebowitz continues her busy life as a troop greeter at Bangor International Airport and an RSVP volunteer at the Maine Motor Vehicle Department.