Dr. Shirley Fine Partoll

Dr. Shirley F. Partoll passed away on July 31, 2025 after enjoying long careers as a psychologist and as an artist. Active in professional, social action, domestic violence and art organizations, she was a life member of the Massachusetts Psychological Association, which honored her with its distinguished service award, and an editor of its quarterly, and a life member of The League of Women Voters. She served as a member of the Board of Directors of The Brookline Community Mental Health Center for over three decades (and initial founder of its "in home therapy program").

In addition, she served on the boards of the Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action (JALSA), the Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries of Greater Boston, and the American Psychological Association. For twenty-five years, she was a member of numerous art societies and exhibited her paintings frequently in individual and group exhibitions in the United States and abroad. 

Born in Boston, Dr. Partoll worked as an editor for the world book company, and after moving to Ohio edited many of Ohio State University Research Foundation's scientific publications. After returning to Massachusetts and completing her doctoral studies she practiced for two decades as a psychologist for all ages, with special focus on adolescents and their families in the Brookline Schools and during that period trained many graduate students. Later she maintained a private psychology practice with adults and families in the greater Boston area for twenty years and in this period made numerous presentations of her research in the many countries to which she traveled. 

What she was most enthusiastic about, in addition to her treasured family, friends and her professional work, were her art, her involvement with social justice issues and traveling as widely as she could. Reading, attending concerts, exhibitions and theatre were sources of great pleasure. Dr. Partoll also derived immense gratification from donating collections of her paintings to mental health facilities, shelters for battered women and their children and homes for the formerly homeless. 

She leaves behind a beloved family: daughter Dale Mathias and her husband Edward Mathias, grandson Jed Lenzner and his wife Charlotte Lenzner, granddaughter Ellen Mathias, great granddaughters Lily Lenzner, Chloe Lenzner, Vivian Mathias & Lucy Mathias, nieces and nephew Joan Fine, Dana and John Fine, and their children. She frequently mentioned that, like her mother, her many dear friends were like family to her.

Contributions may be made in her memory to The Brookline Center for Community Mental Health, Temple Sinai of Brookline or the Joslin Diabetes Center.