Obituary of Ralph Stern

Ralph Stern (87), loving and dedicated husband of Frances (Mintz) Stern, father of Rabbi Ron Stern (Becky Sobelman-Stern); Sharon Eisner (Gadi Eisner), Dan Stern (Joy Novick), grandfather of Noah Stern (Melody Khorsandi), Eliana Stern (Matthew Landau), Oriel Eisner, Daria Eisner (Terrell Pearson), Elan Eisner, Ari Stern, great-grandfather of Milo Khorsandi Stern and Oliver Stern Landau. He is the brother of Robert Stern (Dinah Burstein-Stern).

Ralph was a fun-loving, active husband, father, and grandfather. He loved his wife, Fran of 65 years, passionately and couldn’t bear to leave her side. An avid skier, hiker and biker, Ralph loved life in Colorado and built many lasting friendships here. 

Born in Essen, Germany, Ralph emigrated with his parents in 1938 and ultimately settled in Charlotte, NC, where he grew to adulthood. After receiving an MBA from the Wharton School he took over the family men’s knitwear business that his father started in his living room when they emigrated from Nazi Germany.  He ran it for much of his life both in Charlotte and then later as a commuter to New York City from his home in Morristown, NJ. 

Each day he’d spend several hours on the train, sitting in the same seat and immersing himself in his latest newly acquired book about Jewish history, philosophy, or another Jewishly themed subject. Ralph loved to learn and had an extensive library to showcase his acquired knowledge.  That library has been passed on to his children, grandchildren and the University of Denver library at the Jewish Studies Department.  

As a committed Jew and leader, Ralph served on the board at Temple B’nai Or in Morristown for many years.  His passionate Zionism inspired him to commit a great portion of his life to the United Jewish Appeal (now Jewish Federations of North America) where he served on and chaired the Men’s National Young Leadership Cabinet.  Ralph, sometimes along with his family, participated in many missions to Israel. Notably, the Sterns were the first to serve as a special delegation to welcome refuseniks as they emigrated to Israel from the Soviet Union through Schoenau, Vienna.  

Ralph was a committed Jewish learner and returned to school after retirement to obtain a masters in Jewish Education from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City.  Ralph moved to Denver to run the Denver Jewish Federation and then worked for 12 years beside his daughter, Sharon and son-in-law, Gadi, in IsArt, their Israeli Jewelry and Judaica business.  He also was proud of his teaching from the Biblical Book of Job at the OLLI program at the University of Denver.  

Contributions can be made in Ralph’s name to The Center for Jewish Non-violence , The New Israel Fund, or Jewish Family Service. 

Funeral will be held on Monday, January 6th, 2025 at 1pm at Feldman Mortuary with interment following at Emanuel Cemetery within Fairmount.  Shiva will be on Monday, January 6th and Tuesday, January 7th at Hilltop Reserve at 4:30 pm.

Service will be livestreamed via the Feldman Mortuary YouTube Channel.