The Barkins

by Tom Froncek

Jeff and Joan Barkin recently moved to Portland from Bangor, where Jeff had a medical practice and where they were members of Beth Israel congregation. Jeff, a New York native, studied at Yale University and is a psychiatrist with a private practice in the Old Port. Joan, who hails from New Jersey, studied at Washington University in St. Louis, where she earned a master of fine arts degree. A painter, she has exhibited her work in various galleries and for a time even ran a gallery of her own. Right now, however, she is concentrating on raising their two children. Their daughter, Rachel, who is 15, attends Portland High School and enjoys singing as well as many other activities. The Barkin's son, Jesse, who is 12, attends King Middle School, loves tennis, and is studying for his Bar Mitzvah at the Temple's Hebrew School. The entire family enjoys the outdoors and Jeff in particular is a great baseball fan. He prefers, however, not to mention which team he roots for.