PORTLAND — Jack I. Novick, the retired owner of Hub Furniture Co. who operated the family business for more than 40 years, died Monday. He was 84.
He joined the furniture company around 1947 and worked alongside his brother, David Novick, and his father, Samuel Novick, who founded the business in 1913 in Portland.
Additional Photos
Hub Furniture opened a second store in Brunswick in the 1930s. It later moved to downtown Westbrook, where the business operates today.
Mr. Novick took over when his brother died in 1959. He worked at the store until just a few years ago.
“It was in his blood,” said his son, Sam Novick, who now runs the business. “Furniture is the family business. He loved what he did. He enjoyed the people, the products, and made some wonderful friendships with people in the industry.”
Mr. Novick’s son began working in the store when he was 10. He described his father on Tuesday as a simple and unassuming man who was forward-thinking in his business practices. He said his father was a great teacher.
“I knew from the day I started here that this is what I wanted to do as a career,” he said. “We spent a lot of time together. We had the typical father-and-son arguments, but he always yielded to my opinion or decision. He taught me everything I know.”
Mr. Novick grew up in Portland. He attended Portland schools, but left Deering High School to join the Navy. He served in the Philippines during World War II and was discharged in 1946. He returned to Maine and graduated from Hebron Academy in 1947.
He was married to Rose Novick for 62 years, and they raised three children. His son said he was a great father who worked hard to give his children opportunities that he never had. He said his father attended every Deering High School basketball and hockey game to watch his grandchildren.
“He epitomized the definition of family,” his son said.
Rose Novick also worked at the furniture store with her husband before he retired. When he became ill, she took care of him and visited him every day at the Cedars Nursing Care Center.
“It typified their life together,” his son said. “My parents had a very strong marriage. They were like-minded. They were not extravagant and weren’t interested in fancy frills. They were down-to-earth people.”
Mr. Novick was active in the Jewish community. He was a member of Temple Beth El and the Jewish Community Alliance. For many years, he volunteered to teach photography at the Jewish Community Center. He also was known for his baking skills.
Mr. Novick was a loyal friend to many people, including Philip Levinsky, third-generation owner of the Levinsky’s clothing store. Levinsky said they met around 1929, and were friends for 81 years.
Levinsky said he spent a lot of time at the Novick family’s camp on Little Sebago Lake. He said they double-dated and played ping-pong at the community center.
“I am very sad,” Levinsky said Tuesday. “Even though he’s not with us anymore, I’ll never forget his memory. I am glad he is at peace.”
Staff Writer Melanie Creamer can be contacted at 791-6361 or at: mcreamer@pressherald.com
Copy the Story Link
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.