Jeffrey Michael Stern Sr.

Stern, Jeffrey Michael Sr.

October 19, 1943 - December 26, 2022

Jeffrey Michael Stern, Sr., of Birmingham, AL, devoted father, friend, and husband, died on December 26th, 2022.

He is survived by his wife, Laura "Lolly" Stern; children, Jeffrey "Jay" Michael Stern, Jr. and Melinda "Mimi" (Lester) Gammon; stepchildren, Courtney Lanter and Cole Lanter; sister, Cheryl (Raymond) Norton; sister-in-law, Judith Stern; nine nieces and nephews, 11 grandnieces and nephews, two great-grandnieces and nephews; and his dear Labradoodle, Henrietta Wilson. He was predeceased by his parents, Harold Stern and Lillian Schrager; and his brother, Richard Stern, all of Omaha, NE.

Jeff was born on October 19, 1943, on an Army base in Alexandria, LA, while his father, Harold Stern, was serving as a major in the European Theater during WWII. As a youth in Omaha, NE, he worked for his uncle Morton Friedlander at the family grocery store, which kindled an entrepreneurial spirit. As a young man he moved to Houston, TX, where he entered an executive training program at Foley's Department Store and served in the National Guard. After meeting and marrying Felice Ann Stern (now Goldstein), Jeff began working for his father-in-law, Max Stern Jr., at American Peerless Laundry, Inc, in Birmingham, AL.

In 1973, Jeff started Rite Way Services, Inc., a commercial janitorial cleaning company, with little more than a mop, a broom and a truck. Although he was incredibly proud of the later successes of his company, he claimed it was due to hiring "the right people," rather than any special talent. He always preferred to tell people he was a janitor rather than a CEO.

In his retirement, Jeff's main hobbies were traveling and boating. He found a way to combine the two by exploring The Great Loop with Lolly, on their boat, Knot So Fast. He also enjoyed fishing, cooking, woodturning, and cleaning up after people before they were done eating.

Jeffrey touched so many lives through his fun and generous spirit and loyal friendship. His memory will be a blessing to all who were fortunate to know him.

A GRAVESIDE FUNERAL will be held at 2pm on Thursday, December 29th, at Elmwood Cemetery. In lieu in flowers, donations can be made in Jeff's name to Saint Jude's Hospital.