Samuel Stern
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Samuel Stern of Needham and Dedham, MA, died on May 28, 2023 at age 84 after a brief battle with cancer.
Born in Furth, Germany in 1939, Sam was a child survivor of the Holocaust, and was liberated from Bergen-Belsen in 1945 with his mother and brother. They moved to New York in 1947 to start a new life. He graduated from City College of New York and went on to earn advanced degrees in biophysics and marine biology at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Miami.
After teaching at both Johns Hopkins University and Harvard University, Sam settled into a long academic career at Boston University, where he taught multiple subjects including biology, computer science, and math. In 1978, Sam received the prestigious Metcalf Teaching Award for excellence in teaching at BU. He went on to become a Dean at BU’s Metropolitan College and at the College of General Studies and served as Special Assistant to the President.
Settling with his family in Needham in 1971, Sam enjoyed coaching baseball and spending time as a key member of the Friends of the Needham Public Library. He and his loving partner, Charlotte, moved from Needham to Newbridge on the Charles in Dedham in 2018, where they quickly developed new friendships and became active members in the community.
Sam was known for his sardonic sense of humor, his extensive knowledge in many fields, his keen eye for rare books, and his love of fishing. His son and grandchildren were his pride and joy. Sam’s story of Holocaust survival has been recorded and shared as part of the USC Shoah Foundation video project, in the writings of Bernice Lerner (“The Triumph of Wounded Souls,” ©2004), and in the annals of the US Holocaust Memorial Museum. Sam often spoke at local schools and synagogues about his experiences during the war.
Sam was married for 42 years to Doris Naimark Stern, who passed away in 2004. He was predeceased by his parents, Arthur and Karolina Stern, and by his stepfather, David Schneebalg (Ruth). He is survived by his son, Alan (Lori Tenser), and their children, Reuben, Jeremy and Celia Stern, by his brother, Peter (Julie), and by his loving partner, Charlotte Chase, her children and grandchildren.
Services at Temple Beth Shalom, 670 Highland Ave., Needham, on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at 10:00 am. Interment to follow at Beit Olam Cemetery, 60 Old Sudbury Rd, Wayland (Enter through North Cemetery).
Donations can be made to the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Boston Bullpen Project, or Newbridge on the Charles Scholarship Fund.