Norma Stern

Norma Stern devoted her life to family and community with a passion and gusto that carried her into her tenth decade. Even when her body let her down (failing vision, hearing, etc.), Norma always preferred to be out and experiencing life.

Norma died peacefully May 19, 2024 in Kingman, Ariz. She was 96.

Born Norma Davidowitz in Chester, Pa., she grew up with her parents Leon and Elizabeth and her brother Benjamin. Norma loved to dance, go to baseball games, visit Atlantic City and help out at her father's Five & Dime.

That love for living defined her years as a wife, mother of three and grandmother, and as a volunteer for countless organizations in Vista (where she lived since 1965) and before that in Fair Lawn, N.J.

She would be the first to tell you (proudly) that she was Dick Stern's wife. Her husband of 58 years, who died in 2010, was known in North San Diego County for his singing, acting, trumpet playing and outgoing personality.

Norma and Dick were partners in everything. Norma happily joined him, whether giving her time and knowledge as an active volunteer for the Palomar Pacific chapter of the Barbershop Society or helping him make cassette copies of the album of Dick's popular barbershop quartet the 4 City 4 or driving him to his holiday gigs playing Santa Claus. When Dick began acting and singing at North County Community Theater, Norma joined in behind the scenes as a volunteer, becoming an integral part of the theater.

The two loved to travel, often to Barbershop conventions or simply taking a road trip and stopping wherever their car and imagination took them. She never said no to a journey, in recent years enjoying visits to see another love of hers, theater, at major festivals in the U.S. and Canada. After the pandemic Norma and her caregiver, Rina, were thrilled to vacation in Hawaii.

When Dick could no longer drive himself, Norma took him everywhere, neither of them defined by the limitations of his stroke and reliance on a wheelchair. Every Tuesday evening she drove him to sing with his barbershop chorus.

The couple were longtime members of the North County Jewish Community Center (later Temple Judea) in Vista and Temple Solel. Norma volunteered tirelessly for the Jewish community at the NCJCC as well as for such women's groups as Hadassah and the Sisterhood of the Reform Temple of Fair Lawn.

She served as a dedicated member of the auxiliary at Tri-City Medical Center for decades, and was a supporter of the Vista Friends of the Library as well as the Braille Institute, which enabled her to continue her love of reading.

Norma practiced chair yoga into her 90s, enjoying both the physical and social benefits.

While her daughters, Sherry, Leslie and Michelle, went through the Vista school system, Norma was an active member of the PTA. She later supported all three through their college years and took pride in their accomplishments.

As a young woman, she worked at a radio station in her hometown of Chester. After marrying Dick, Norma took pride in her family and in taking care of the household. At the same time she remained her own person and someone who was not afraid to speak up when she saw something she felt was unjust.

That character was evident early on. In the 1950s while her husband was stationed at Fort Benning, Ga,, Norma was riding a bus when the driver motioned for a Black soldier to move to the rear. Norma verbally objected and when the driver made the soldier get off the bus, she got off and joined him for the walk.

Her three daughters credit Norma with setting an example that influenced their own paths as professional and independent women.

Norma is survived by her daughters, her grandson Josh, her son-in-law C.P. and her honorary family member, Rina, who cared for her and became her beloved companion and friend for six years.

A service will be at 2 p.m. on Thursday, at Eternal Hills Mortuary in Oceanside. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Braille Institute.