Jerome H. Stern

Stern, Jerome H. 89 Nov. 26, 1926 Dec. 20, 2015 Jerome "Jerry" Stern passed away peacefully Dec. 20, 2015, at home. He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Helen; children, Eve Stern and Les Gutfreund, Tom and Mary Jane Stern and Sharon Stern and Stephen Rallison; grandchildren, Benjamin and Gail Singer, Anna and Eric Kodesch, Hailey and Evan Bernstein, Jonathan Singer, Bradley and Lara Stern, Harrison Hess, Alexander Hess and Lindsey Stern; and 12 great-grandchildren. Jerry was a devoted son, adoring little brother, loving husband and father, dependable cousin, entrepreneur, industry leader, favorite Sunday School teacher, community leader, national board member, traveller, tennis player, golfer, hiker, role model, philanthropist, generous friend, playful grandfather and adored great-grandfather. The list goes on and on and there is so much more. Born in 1926 to immigrant parents, Sarah and Tom Stern, he was 10 and 13 years younger than his brothers, Sol and Reuben. Jerry idolized his older brothers and parents and suffered with the family as they experienced serious health issues at young ages and increasingly difficult financial straits. These experiences informed his life and he always felt the pain and difficulties of others very deeply. Jerry attended Lincoln High School and Reed College, studying pre-med. After a year and a half of college, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and then obtained compassionate leave to care for his parents. Consequently, he grew up very quickly and took on serious responsibilities in his late teens. Helen and Jerrys love story is very special. Helen Rubenstein, a teenager from Medford, had seen Jerry at an dance and later hit on him at Seaside. Once he noticed her, he was smitten and pursued her to University of California at Berkeley where he charmed her into marrying him. Helen was a vivacious and beautiful girl. She was the strength behind Jerry and a full partner in all his accomplishments. She always encouraged him and supported him. She taught him how to have fun. They were a team in the best sense of the word and were solidly united for 67 years of marriage through the successes of life and storms they endured together. Jerrys career ranged from working in the shipyards as a chipper during World War II at age 15 to founding Familian Northwest in 1969. Familian Northwest was his fourth child, growing from a group of six men working out of a trailer off the Banfield Freeway to a multi-state wholesale plumbing and pipe empire with 50 branches and over 2500 employees. Jerry and his son, Tom, enjoyed an extraordinary relationship as they grew the business together. His plan was to find opportunities to foster the professional growth of his employees, all of whom were dedicated to Jerry and endeavored to please him. He in turn was devoted to them and truly committed to their well-being. After Jerry and Tom sold Familian Northwest in 1988 to British Public Company, he embarked on his second career: philanthropy. Jerry had always been involved in the Portland Jewish Community. After retirement, he served on numerous boards, supported IRCO, Portland Center Stage, Reed College and countless local Jewish agencies and synagogues in Oregon. Jerry was generous with his money and time. He also quietly performed acts of kindness throughout his life. Jerry was able to fulfill his lifelong dream to find and to help his first cousins whom he knew were living in Saratov, Russia, a closed military/industrial city. It took years of tenacious research to find them and after moving mountains of red tape and navigating Soviet bureaucracy, in 1990 Helen and Jerry were the first Westerners to travel to Saratov where he was reunited with his family. Ultimately he brought 25 relatives to Portland. He financed their resettlement completely and provided homes, jobs and medical care for them. He then turned his sights nationally and internationally. He joined the board of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society which had resettled his parents and served as Western Regional Chairman of United Jewish Appeal, leading numerous international missions to educate people on the plight of refugees. One of his most ambitious accomplishments was to charter a 737 to bring refugees from Russia to Israel. One of his greatest pleasures was enjoying life with his beloved Helen. They traveled extensively and met dignitaries and world leaders on many of their trips. They wintered in Palm Desert, Calif., and enjoyed a fulfilling social life in Portland, Palm Desert and Cannon Beach. Jerry kept his dignity until the end, was surrounded by love and caring, and was, as always, the center of his family. Donations may be made to Cedar Sinai Park, Mittleman Jewish Community Center or a charity of your choice.