FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 | 25
(author Susanna) ‘writer-
in-residence,’ docents,
volunteers, guards — you
name them.” Many he
spoke of were in attendance.
“Some had flattered me
by telling me that they
learned something from
the dubious sagacity of this
oldster. Well, that learning
process is two-fold,” Stern
said. “In fact, I was more
often the beneficiary of
their generational wisdom.
I drew a conclusion from
that: Do not let hubris or
false pride stand in the way
of learning from that young
woman or fellow one desk
removed who could, by
every reckoning, easily be
your granddaughter or son,
nay your great-grandchild!”
On Jan. 14, the day
of his 100th birthday,
Stern was celebrated by
a small gathering of his
fellow Michigan Jewish
War Veterans (JWV). Ted
Gittleman, commander of
the Lt. Raymond Zussman
Post 135, of which Stern
is a member, presented
him with a Certificate of
Significant Achievement
from JWV National
Commander Alan D. Paley.
Stern’s remarkable life
journey is chronicled in
his memoir, Invisible Ink,
published in 2020. The title
was inspired by his father’s
foreboding words shared
to him as Nazism began to
take hold. “You have to be
like invisible ink,” Julius
said. “You will leave traces
of your existence when, in
better times, we can emerge
again and show ourselves as
the individuals we are.”
With those words, Stern’s
father must have known
that even at just 15, his son
Guy had the courage and
intestinal fortitude to survive
and emerge anew from
their family’s bleakest hour.
They are the same attributes
that we all have come to
learn about this remarkable
man and his life’s journey.
That he, under impossible
odds, not only emerged, but
even on the occasion of his
100th birthday, continues
to engage, inform and
inspire. It is his legacy to
his family and his gift to our
community.
Guy Stern honored by the
JWV on the occasion of
his 100th birthday by JWV
Post 135 Commander Ted
Gittleman and Rabbi Eli
Mayerfeld, CEO of The HC.
ART FISHMAN
The JN Welcomes
Rachel Sweet
as Associate Editor
JEWISH NEWS
THE DETROIT
The Jewish News is pleased
Rachel is joining our team! A
lifelong Metro Detroiter, Rachel
comes to the JN after working as
an on-air TV reporter in Flint.
As associate editor, Rachel will
help in guiding the JN’s news
and feature coverage.
Please share story ideas with her
(or just send her a “welcome”) to
rsweet@thejewishnews.com or
give her a call at (248) 351-5108.
AMANDA SWEET