MARK LEO STERNLICHT

1929 - 2015

STERNLICHT, Mark Leo Died peacefully on July 15, 2015. Beloved husband to his wife of 57 years, Harriet, and loving father of Andrew, Barry and Russell Sternlicht, and proud grandfather of Alex, George, Eliza, James, Adrienne, William, Max, Jake, and Lily. He is also survived by his sister, Celina, and her husband, Marvin Zborowski. Mark Stern-

licht was born in Krakow, Poland on December 9, 1929, the son of the late Jacob and Lola. He spent the years of World War II in hiding and fighting with the partisans in and around the mountains of the Czech Republic. He was 9 years old when the war broke out and 15 years old when it ended. He traveled from Poland, to the hills of Czechoslovakia, to Hungary, where he was adopted by a Hungarian priest, and back to Czech where he was liberated. As his father, Jacob, was captured by the Russians and sent to a labor camp, Mark became the de facto head of the family during the war years, living in caves and bartering for food and other life necessities. More than a year after the war, Mark was miraculously reunited with his father whom he presumed had passed. Mark went on to complete his education earning an electrical engineering degree from the University of Brussels. Mark, his parents, sister and grandmother immigrated to the United States in 1951 and settled in the Bronx. In 1956, he met the love of his life, Harriet Guiterman, at a wedding in February. They married in August of 1956, first moving to Jackson Heights and then settling in Jericho, Long Island where Mark worked as an engineer for Bechtel. He then moved his young family to Stamford, CT in 1968 and after several careers, founded the U.S. division of Wonder Corporation serving as its U.S. CEO. The company's success earned him many awards, a seat on the Connecticut Chamber of Commerce and Better Business Bureau and trips to China with CT's then governor, Grasso. In his later years, he worked with the T.V.A. and at age 67, took the Series 7 exam and was offered a position at Smith Barney in Greenwich, where he joined his wife and spent another 10 years. Mark served as President of Congregation Agudath Sholom in his hometown, Stamford, on the Board of Bi-Cultural Day School, and on the Regional Board of the American Jewish Committee. Mark spoke more than 8 languages. He loved the United States, its democracy, freedoms and "can do" anything attitude. He loved classical music, every car ever made, the opera, travel, his synagogue, his many friends and most of all, he loved his wife, his children, their families and especially his nine grandchildren with all his heart. Mark had a passion for all life had to offer and never took it for granted. He served as a mentor, consigliere, role model, fighter and a study in great character and resiliency to all who were blessed to know him. The family invites friends to the memorial service at Congregation Agudath Sholom, 301 Strawberry Hill Avenue in Stamford, CT on Thursday, July 16th at 10:00 am. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Congregation Agudath Sholom, where a renovation and expansion is being planned in his honor. Arrangements under the direction of Shippan's Thomas M. Gallagher Funeral Home, 453 Shippan Ave., Stamford, CT.

Thomas M. Gallagher Funeral Home

www.gallagherfuneralhome.com

(203) 359-9999