Jerry von Sternberg

JERRY von STERNBERG, 86, noted court reporter, passed away on January 31, 2007 at home in the company of his family. Jerry was born on April 14, 1920 and raised in Defiance, Iowa where he was valedictorian of his high school. Jerry then studied to be a court reporter and worked in the War Department in Washington, DC., followed by a term in the army. He discharged in 1942, returned to Defiance and met his wife, Harriet, whom he married on August 22, 1943. In 1948, after working for the SEC in Philadelphia, Jerry moved his growing family to Houston and worked on the litigation involving the Texas City disaster. Jerry was the first reporter in Texas to use the stenograph machine and started his court reporting firm, Jerivon Reporting Company, in 1951. In 1969 he became the official reporter for Hon. Judge Carl Bue, a federal district judge. Jerry retired in 1985 and moved to Lake Conroe where he and Harriet lived until his death. In 1978 Jerry authored a book, I Solemnly Swear, which is a collection of anecdotes describing humorous testimony Jerry transcribed over the years. The book has since become a collector's item. Jerry was known as the dean of court reporters. He was sought after because of his attention to detail, his incomparable competence and his insistence that his product be perfect. He earned the respect of all those who knew and worked with him. Jerry was also known for his wit and dry sense of humor. It was not beneath him to play a practical joke on colleagues, clients and friends. He was overly generous with his time and would help anyone, often complete strangers, who were in need of monetary assistance or just a kind word. Jerry was preceded in death by Timothy, his first born, on July 30, 2004. He is survived by his wife, Harriet; daughter, Sandra Hochman, and her husband, Joe; daughter, Jill Coleman; son, Kirk von Sternberg, and his wife, Lynn; son, Craig von Sternberg and his wife, Marie; son, Rusty von Sternberg and his wife, Laurie; son, Jerry Christopher von Sternberg and his wife, Heather; eighteen grandchildren; and, two great grandchildren. There will be a memorial mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 109 N. Frazier, Conroe, Texas at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 5, 2007. Family will receive friends at a reception at the Church after the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations be given to Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children, 2200 7th Street, Second Floor, Bay City, Texas 77414.