UPLAND, Calif. – Samuel James Levis Jr. Esq., known to some as Jimmy, Jimbo, Big Jim, Jimmy-Jack-Joe, or just Jim – passed away peacefully in his sleep at the age of 77, Feb. 15, 2022 – after a long decline – in Upland, Calif.

He is survived by his daughters, Abi “Willie Jeanne” Levis and her husband David Treuer of Claremont, California, Maggie Demetros and her partner Jeff Simpson of South Portland, Maine, and Patricia Gooding of Biddeford, Maine. He is survived also by his siblings Bob and Brenda Levis of North Hampton, N.H., Kathleen and Albert Bradley of Seabrook, N.H., Mary (Teddi) and Brian O’Keefe of Salem, Mass., and Jean and Jim Cotton of Hampton Falls, N.H., and many wonderful nieces and nephews. Jimbo’s six grandchildren are Elsina, Noka, and Bine Treuer, Madison Demetros and Emma Simpson, and Sean Gooding.

While he may not have been the best at keeping in touch, he never stopped asking about any of them. Jim was born on October 3, 1944, to Samuel James Levis Sr. and Mary Dorothea (Owens) Levis. Raised in Haverhill, Mass., his life of service began at a young age as the head altar boy of his childhood parish. He went on to study the classics at Boston College (go Eagles) but switched his major to medieval history, as he mistakenly believed that to be a more lucrative career path. Jim would then graduate from Columbia law school and volunteer for the US Marine Corp during the Vietnam war. He served his country as an attorney in Japan and achieved the rank of Captain. He lived and worked in Southern Maine for close to half a century. A titan of the Portland legal community, he was often referred to as “The Scourge” by opposing counsel.

Jim was a partner at Portland’s Drummond Woodsum before striking out on his own with private practices in Biddeford and Kennebunk. He was a founding member of “Maine Attorneys Saving Homes” or MASH—a pro-bono group of attorneys dedicated to stopping corrupt banking practices in Maine’s housing market and was known to accept payment in the form of oil changes, sides of beef, and ice cream. In the last years of his career, he could be found providing free legal representation to low-income Mainers every Thursday at the Springvale courthouse. Jim was a lover of fine art, fried clams, local music, lengthy (LENGTHY) conversations, the Cleveland Browns, and absolutely anything his daughter did (except the tattoos… he was not a fan).

Jim was fierce, loyal, funny, charming, sometimes infuriating, impossibly stubborn, and lived by what he considered the family motto: “Arrogant in Victory/Sullen in Defeat.” If you had him in your corner, you were lucky. If you didn’t, you might be reading this from prison.He will be missed by those who knew and loved him. We all hope that wherever he is there is a good fly fishing spot, bird feeders, Frasier on the TV, Credence Clearwater Revival on the jukebox, and dark beer served by pretty waitresses.

Visiting hours will be 4-7 p.m., Monday February 28, at the Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Home, 172 State Street, Portland. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Sacred Hearts Catholic Church, 165 S. Main Street Haverhill, Massachusetts, Tuesday, March 1 at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow at St. Patrick’s Cemetery.

To view Jim’s memorial page or share an online condolence, please visit http://www.ConroyTullyWalker.com

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Pine Tree Legal Assistance in Jim’s name. He’d love that.

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