Nancy L. (Oppenheimer) Stern, age 81, entered into rest on February 4, 2013 in Stockton, CA. She was born on November 30, 1931 in Erie, Pennsylvania and later lived in Youngstown, Ohio. Her family moved to Los Angeles, when she was young. It was in the Los Angeles area where she met her husband, Leon Stern, raised a family, owned a business and lived for more than 60 years. Nancy and Lee moved to Manteca to be closer to their children in 2011.
Nancy is survived by her husband of 60 years, Leon Stern, and her children: Andy Stern of San Mateo, Lori Jern of Fresno, and Bob Stern of Auburn. She was blessed with six grandchildren: Alan Jern of Pittsburgh, Jeremy Stern of Seattle, Sara Jern of San Jose, Kate Stern of Seattle, Jess Stern of Santa Barbara, and Rebecca Stern of Auburn. Nancy is also survived by her sister, Joan Teter, of San Francisco.
Nancy attended UCLA which was where she met Lee. After graduating from UCLA, they moved to San Francisco. She earned her teaching credential at California State University, San Francisco. After almost 20 years of raising their children, Nancy returned to school to earn a Master’s Degree in reading. She worked in the public schools with gifted children which she thoroughly enjoyed. After a few years, she started her own business with a friend called The Reading and Computing Place in Buena Park, California. The two women became pioneers in the use of computers to enhance learning and to motivate kids to want to learn more. Nancy was such an avid reader that after receiving a Kindle in December 2011, she had read over 250 books. Nancy was an excellent teacher and such a huge proponent of education that it is no small wonder that all of her children and grandchildren have earned college degrees.
Nancy and Lee enjoyed the kinship of many lifelong friends in the Los Angeles area. They were members of book clubs, played bridge and entertained on a regular basis. The Superbowl party they threw for their friends and family for over 15 years running, became a tradition everyone looked forward to each year. They were long time members and supporters of Temple Beth Ohr in La Mirada where all of their children were Bar and Bat mitzvah’d and confirmed. Nancy gave many years of her time to supporting the local ORT chapter (the world’s largest Jewish education and vocational training non-governmental organization). She was president of the La Mirada chapter of ORT for one year.
Nancy traveled extensively with Lee all over the world including many countries in Eastern and Western Europe, the Middle East, Africa, South America, the Caribbean, and Canada as well as several states in the U.S. In the last five years, they were fortunate enough to take their entire family (children and grandchildren) on two family cruises which Nancy thoroughly enjoyed. She loved having her whole family together. That was her greatest joy.
Nancy will be deeply missed by her entire family of her husband, children and grandchildren and their spouses as well as many of her extended family spanning the country.
Services for Nancy L. Stern have been entrusted to PL Fry & Son Funeral Home, 290 N. Union Road, Manteca. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to City of Hope Cancer Research, 1500 E. Duarte Rd., Duarte, CA. 91010, www.cityofhope.org or Hospice House of San Joaquin, 3888 Pacific Avenue, Stockton, CA. 95204, http://www.hospicesj.org/. An online guestbook is available at www.plfryandson.com
Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin
Saturday, February 16, 2013
