Person:Hans Stern (1)

Hans Julius 'Jack' Stern was born June 14th, 1925 in Hamburg, Germany. He has a fraternal twin sister, Grete Berta Stern, who was born two hours before him. Hans lived in Germany until his family could afford to come to the United States in 1928. Their Application for Visa was sponsored by Max Stern, Jack's 2nd cousin. They came to America on board the United States Lines ship 'President Roosevelt'; Jack remembers the ship's crew gave them oranges during the voyage, which they enjoyed. They arrived in America through the Port of New Jersey, and moved into their first apartment in Manhattan. It was a one-room apartment over a restaurant, across from Cooper Union. The 'EL' or elevated subway train, passed right in front of their apartment.

A short time later they moved to another apartment on 5th Street, on the third floor, above a grocery store. They moved a third time, to an apartment on 7th Street, living on the 4th floor above McSoreley's Ale House. From there, the family went to Chicago. They lived in Chicago for two years; while living in Chicago, the children had a dog and cart, and lived in a very nice apartment. Jack and his sister attended elementary school there, within walking distance of their school. Jack remembered climbing the ropes in gym there. The family also owned a piano, and Jack and his sister often played under the piano. At the local bakery, Jack and his sister were often given pastries.

The family returned to New York City, moving into an apartment on Moffat Street, between Bushwick Avenue and Broadway. It was across from a Senior Residence or Nursing Home. Jack attended P.S. 113 and was good at spelling, having won a Bible as a prize; E.M. Sarvis was his teacher. The family moved again to Bedford Avenue between Caroll Street and President Street; the apartment was on the 4th floor, and they lived there for about three years. He made a lifelong friendship with Jesse Nitzberg, who lived nearby on Crown Street. He attended P.S. 241, while Grete went to Girl's Commercial school. The family moved again, to 1601 President Street in Brooklyn, where they lived for 8 years. Jack then attended Alexander Hamilton High School, then transferred to Erasmus High School, from which he graduated. He enjoyed science, especially Chemistry and Electricity. He was involved in the Science Club with Jesse Nitzburg. He also learned to speak Spanish.

Jack enlisted as a Private in the Army on July 19th, 1943, after the had graduated High School and had turned 18. He received his training at Fort Bragg, NC as an artillery soldier, in support of the Infantry. During World War II, he was assigned to the 114th Field Artillery Regiment, which became part of the force that invaded and ultimately liberated New Guinea, Wake Island, Morotai Island, and ultimately the Philippines. For his service in the Army he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, The Asiatic Pacific Service Medal and ribbon with one spearpoint and one bronze battle star, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Philippines Liberation Ribbon with one battle star. He was Honorably Discharged on December 22, 1945, as a Sergeant, but was able to return home on November 15, 1945 because his father was terminally ill with heart disease; his father died the day he returned home.

He got a job working at a machine manufacturing company across the street from the family apartment on President Street. He returned to the Army again, this time in the Reserves, in March 25, 1950 and was again Homorable Discharged on April 15, 1953. Once home, he bought his first car, a 1947 Plymouth. He got a job at Fredericks clothier in NYC where clothing was designed and manufactured. Gustav Droller (the husband of his first cousin, once removed) got him the job doing inventory work. Jack started taking part-time classes at Brooklyn Polytechnical College studying electrical engineering; his tuition was paid by the GI Bill.

He was hired at Sperry Gyroscope in Lake Success as an electrical technician; he continued taking courses at night; at this time, he was also on the Square Dance committee at Henry Street Settlement where he met Irwin Harris, as well as friends Renata and Al Cafiero. He also had the opportunity to meet and dance with Rosa Parks.

Jack and his mother moved again to Barclay Street, Flushing, NY; in 1962, he bought his first new car, a Volvo. In spring, 1964 he graduated from Brooklyn Polytechnical College; he graduated with his BS degree in Engineering (SE?). That summer, Jack met his future wife, Catherine Gale, on Fire Island. They were married on August 20, 1964, where the lived in an apartment together in Mineola. They saved their money and in June, 1966 they bought a home, located at 110 Godfrey Avenue, Bayville, NY 11709. Jack was transferred from Sperry to Grumman Aerospace Corporation that same year, as an Electrical Engineer. While at Grumman, he worked on the Lunar Excursion Module, which helped the first men to land on the moon in 1969. He also worked on various military aircraft electrical systems, including the F14 Tomcat and the E2-C surveillance plane.

His first son, David Emmanuel, was born June 30, 1969; his second son, Daniel Jonathan, was born December 21, 1971. Jack had smoked much of his life, but quit cold turkey as soon as he became a father, and never smoked again. He also loved to sail, and even owned a sailboat for a while, but eventually sold the boat in the early 1970s. In 1974 he bought a new Dodge Colt, painted white. He replaced that Colt with a new, gold Dodge Colt in 1987. Jack worked at Grumman until his retirement in November 1992. After retirement, he volunteered at the local soup kitchen in Glen Cove, NY, run by the Interfaith Nutrition Network (INN), running the soup kitchen every Friday. He also served as the Democratic Committeeman for the town of Bayville, handing out leaflets, and poll watching during elections. Jack was always very active in the community, always ready to help others. In 1999 he bought a green Dodge Neon.

Jack and his family were members of North Country Reform Temple - N'er Tamid in Glen Cove NY for several decades. Jack helped to build the Succah every year. Jack also worked with Christmas in April, and Habitat for Humanity; he helped construct the wheelchair ramp at Jones Manor Adult Home in Bayville, NY for the disabled residents living there. Jack has been a lifelong stamp collector, and also has always loved to play the acoustic guitar. He also loved model railroading and built several model railroad dioramas in his home over the years. Jack taught himself Hebrew, and also studied HAM Radio (i.e., Morse Code). Jack is very good natured and even tempered, and has always been quick with a joke and a kind word. He is well loved by all who know him.

Later in life, Jack was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease; he remained in relatively good health until Labor Day weekend, 2007, when he suffered a series of strokes. Due to his failing health, Jack moved from his home into the Sunrise Assisted Living Facility in Glen Cove, New York, and shortly thereafter was transfererd to the Marquis Care Center, a nursing home in Glen Cove, New York. Jack succumbed to his illness on October 17, 2008, and was buried on Octobner 19, 2008 in New Montefiore Cemetery on Long Island. His funeral services at Gutterman's Funeral Home was very well attended; the service was officiated by Rabbi Janet Liss from North Country Reform Temple-N'er Tamid, and eulogies were delivered by his sons David and Daniel Stern.

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Ancestry.com. Social Security Death Index. (Name: The Generations Network, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2008;)
   Database online.

   Record for Hans J. Stern

2. ↑ Edith A King. State of New York - Amamnesis of Dorothy Stern from Letchworth Village. (Date: 14 Jan. 1937;).