Lewis Stein

LEWIS STEIN, 96, died peacefully on February 29, 2024, at Homestead at Hamilton in Hamilton surrounded by family and his wonderful caregivers.
Born on December 23, 1927, in East Liverpool, OH, to Abraham and Rosella (née Silverberg) Stein, Lewis, reputedly the first child in his family to be delivered in a hospital, grew up in neighboring Midland, PA, and Queens, NY. After graduating from Newtown High School at 16, Lewis studied petroleum engineering at Penn State, interrupted by service in the U.S. Army in the Philippines. Lewis worked for Bell Oil in Ardmore, OK, and Amerada Hess in Woodbridge, NJ, before deciding on a lark to enroll in night classes at Rutgers Law School-Newark. His goal was not to practice law, he informed the dean, but rather to satisfy his intellectual curiosity.
He probably meant it, until Leon Hess reneged on a promised bonus. After admission to the New York Bar and the New Jersey Bar, he became a practicing attorney, earned an LL.M. from New York University Law School, and retired after more than 30 years as in-house counsel for Johnson & Johnson, where he specialized in customs law and patent law. He resided in Boynton Beach, FL, from 1995 until 2021, when he returned to New Jersey following the death of his wife of 62 years, Lee Parker Stein.
In addition to being an attentive husband, Lewis, a member of Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple in New Brunswick, was a devoted father who instilled in his children his love of books and storytelling and projects that don't necessarily have to work to be worthwhile. He is survived by his son, Jonathan Stein, and daughter-in-law, Vladka, of Prague, Czech Republic; his daughter, Ellen Calman, and son-in-law, Marshall, of Robbinsville, NJ; his brother, Martin Stein, of Brooklyn, NY; four grandchildren of whom he was very proud, and one great-grandchild at whom he marveled. A son, Ethan Stein, died in 1996.
A graveside service will be held on Sunday, March 3, 2024, at 11:15 am, at Elmwood Cemetery, 425 Georges Road, North Brunswick. For directions, please see "Events" below.
A long-time supporter of Hadassah, the family asks that donations be made to the chapter of the donor's choice or to Congregation Beth Chaim in West Windsor, NJ.
Shiva will be observed at the home of Ellen and Marshall Calman, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights from 6:30-8:30pm with a Minyan at 7pm.