Dr. Jay Fowler Stearns Ph.D.

I can hear your voice now. You were a good man and a good friend.

I first met Jay when I was about 13, in 1975. His daughter Chara was one of my best friends through Junior High and High School; she had come from from Detroit to join him in San Francisco. Though I have not seen Jay in the last 8 years or so, he definitely had a tremendous influence upon me. As a young lady with no dad, I always (perhaps jealously) thought of Jay as the ultimate dad. He was funny and kind, and non-judgmental...the type of adult that every teen craves to be around. He...

Such a shock and a heartbreak to stumble upon this news. My deepest condolences to all of Jay's family and those who loved him. I remember him with you.

it’s hard to write about jay in the past tense. despite his long illness, i never thought that today, or tomorrow, or yesterday, might be the day jay stearns would leave this world. we loved jay, paul and i, and his passing leaves a large hole in our lives.

i see jay in my mind now as the vital man he was 30 years ago when i met him. he was a good friend to my husband, paul when we married, and became a dear friend of mine over the years. i always loved seeing him—-tall, lanky,...

Jay was a friend for 35 years, since our early training at UCSF Med Center. He had a sharp mind and an unassuming manner. Unpretentious as he was, his breadth of knowledge and interests was impressive. Jay's reticence at first meeting reflected a sensitive, responsive nature that tended to feel happy when his friends were doing well, and to empathize when they were not. Conversations with him, sharing thoughts and impressions, were of such quality that hours would vanish in enjoyment that...

Jay was a wonderful guy to work for. Both Nancy Branstetter, who served as his bookkeeper, and I as his outside CPA firm had the privilege of serving him. We both look forward to meeting his family members Saturday afternoon.

Whenever Jay had a computer problem he would call. After we ironed out his problem we would talk at length about life and work on ideas to help make the world a better place. I am thankful that he had a lot of computer problems. My brother was loved and cherished by many as a kind thoughtful man with a childlike sense of humor. I will miss him very much.

My beloved father and friend, my confidant and hero, may you rest in peace. Your daughter, Kirsten Chara