Irwin M. Stein

Stein, Irwin M.

Irwin M. Stein, a longtime resident of Yonkers, died on Sunday, February 26, 2012. He was born in New York City in 1921, moving to Yonkers when his social work career made that residence more convenient. His paternal grandfather, Frank had been a long term employee of Otis Elevator until retirement, and his father, Murray, was born and educated in Yonkers. A son, Steven, survives him, and had been educated in Yonkers.

Major Stein (he was retired as Major from the U.S. Army Reserve) served on active duty during World War II and again during the Korean War. During World War II, he was posted to England in the Signal Corps. His unit moved to France on D-Day + 59, but a transfer to the Medical Service Department brought him back to England for the balance of his WWII service. He acquired a master's degree in social work from Columbia University, was awarded a 1st Lt. commission as a social work officer, assigned as Chief Social Worker in an Army hospital during the Korean War, and then continued his reserve service until retired by the Army in the grade of Major. His first civilian social work employment was in the Family Service Society of Yonkers. Later, he became Executive Director of Scarsdale Family Counseling Service, but then as a co-founder of Family Services of Westchester he was appointed as its first C.E.O., and continued in that post until his retirement in 1985. Subsequently, he entered Westchester County service and was appointed Director of Administrative Services in the Department of Probation. He worked in that department and in the Department of Community Mental Health unil his eventual retirement. His voluntary services were varied. He served as a chairman of the Westchester Division of NASW, was appointed to the New York State Board of Social Work at its inception, and during 10 years on that board was elected to the Chair twice. He served on the Board of Directors of the Westchester Community Fund, and had various posts in the Family Service Association of America. Because of several mergers occurring during his tenure with "FSW," he had $1 a year administrative positions with more than 10 organizations until their mergers into FSW were finalized.

His career did not deter him from having a long and warm marriage to Ruth Esther Stein. They were married for 65 years until Ruth's death in 2007. They were dedicated dancers and for a while even taught ballroom dancing to family groups. Travel was a principal hobby, with Australia the only continent not reached. They had one son, Steven, who served on a Navy destroyer during the Vietnam War. He had a full career with IBM, and currently is a Motoring Advisor with the Westchester Mini dealership. Steven and his wife, Denise have a daughter, Kimberly, who is a senior at La Salle University studying nutrition. Denise is an active volunteer in the Ossining Food Pantry and works for a financial planner.

Calling hours are from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 29 at Weinstein Memorial Chapel, 1652 Central Park Ave., Yonkers. Private internment Thursday morning, March 1 at Sharon Gardens. In lieu of flowers, friends are asked to contribute to the Ruth Fund at Lawrence Hospital Center, c/o Heather Morrison, Director of Development.