Joel Lewis Salberg

AUBURN – Joel Lewis Salberg, 87, dearly beloved husband of Elisabeth, died Wednesday, April 19, 2023 at CMMC surrounded by family.

Joel was born Feb. 3, 1936, in New York City, N.Y. to Arthur Isaac and Pearl Estelle (Polansky) Salberg. Joel lived in the Bronx with his sister Doris until 1943 when the family moved to West Hartford, Conn.

In West Hartford, Conn. Joel attended William Hall High, where he was active in theater and drama while working as a soda jerk at a local drug store. Upon graduation, Joel attended UCONN where he was president of the drama club, a WHUS radio announcer, a member of Alpha Epsilon Pi, joined the ROTC and in 1957, graduated with a B.A. in speech and drama.

Joel served his country as a captain in the U.S. Army/U.S. Army Reserves from 1957 until his honorable discharge in 1966.

After college, Joel was a claims examiner for the State of Connecticut, a radio announcer for WTOR in Torrington, Conn., and a news director for WSOR in Windsor, Conn. In 1962 he joined New England Typographic Service, Bloomfield, Conn., where he began work setting type with a Linotype machine, a hot metal typesetting system that was eventually replaced by photo and digital typesetting. At New England Typographic he worked his way up to general manager and vice president.

In 1980 Joel joined York Service Graphics, York, Pa., where he was a regional sales executive. In 1983 he joined University Graphics in Atlantic Highlands, N.J., where he became vice president until he retired in 2002.

Upon retirement, Joel joined L.L. Bean’s customer service team and worked in the Peck building’s call center, using his rich radio voice and his charming manner to converse with people all over the nation until he once again, retired in 2017.

In 1981, while working for York Graphics, Joel attended a meeting in Philadelphia, Pa. where he was introduced to Elisabeth Phillips Richman. A long distance romance quickly blossomed and on Oct. 6, 1985 Joel and Elisabeth were married in Washington, D.C., and moved to Matawan, N.J.

In 2000 Joel and Elisabeth moved to Maine after building a home in Auburn. Joel volunteered for Community Little Theater where he participated in set construction and decor, acted in “Brigadoon”, served on the board of directors and from 2002 to 2005 was president.

His hobbies were reading, golfing, fishing, listening to jazz, gardening and playing with his golden retriever. Joel was a member of Temple Shalom and an active member of the ritual committee.

Joel was predeceased by his sister, Doris Factor in 2015.

He leaves Elisabeth, his wife of 38 years; his former wife and mother of his two eldest sons, Linda Heller Salberg; his sons Seth Salberg, Middletown, N.J., David Salberg and partner Kelly Walker, North Miami Beach, Fla., Brad Richman and wife Mari Balow, Portland, his daughter, Kat Richman and husband Chris Grigsby, Appleton; grandchildren, Miranda Richman, Oxford, U.K., Aidan Richman, Portland, Grady Richman, Appleton; nieces Sharon Hartstein and husband Ari, Rocky Hill, Conn., Mara Factor, Woburn, Mass., Lori Marcus and husband Bruce, Malden, Mass.; one grandniece, Sunny Marcus, three grandnephews, Rowan Marcus, Jared and Simi Hartstein; and cousins Anita Rosen, Rancho Mirage, Calif., and Sherman Salberg, Raleigh, N.C.

Joel will be buried in North Auburn Cemetery with a private family graveside service. Condolences and memories may be shared on Joel’s memorial page at http://www.albert-burpee.com.

Arrangements are under the care of the Albert and Burpee Funeral Home, 253 Pine St., Lewiston, 207-782-7201 .

Donations in Joel’s memory may be made to Community Little Theater and

Good Shepherd Food Bank.