DECEMBER 21 • 2023 | 17
to shine brightly in the minds
and hearts of all those whose
lives he touched.
”
Guy also published numerous
papers and books, including his
memoir, Invisible Ink. As stated
on the inside jacket of his book,
Stern gives as much credit for
his survival of the Holocaust to
his father’s profound cautionary
words, when he said: “You have
to be like invisible ink. You will
have traces of your existence
when, in better times, we can
emerge again and show our-
selves as the individuals we are.
”
Even as Stern approached his
100th birthday, he continued to
be an in-demand speaker for
conferences and universities in
the U.S and Europe until the
COVID-19 pandemic hit.
AT HOME AT THE HC
Stern was a pillar at The
Zekelman Holocaust Center.
He joined its Board of Directors
in 1987, served on advisory
committees, and assumed the
role of interim executive direc-
tor following the 2008 passing
of founder Rabbi Charles
Rosenzveig.
“Guy’s contribution to the
Allied war effort is a well-stud-
ied and established fact. He and
the other Ritchie Boys were
instrumental in the outcome
of the war,
” said Rabbi Eli
Mayerfeld, CEO of The HC.
“He is a hero in every sense of
the word.
“On a personal level, Guy was
a wonderful friend to everyone
here at the center. He selflessly
offered himself as a source of
wisdom, knowledge and com-
panionship to all his coworkers,
including those a quarter of
his age,
” Rabbi Mayerfeld said.
“Truly, he was a treasure, and
he will be greatly missed.
”
The Zekelman Holocaust
Center’s core exhibit has been
undergoing a complete renova-
tion, and Guy Stern’s presence is
felt and heard throughout. The
exhibit will elevate Michigan
survivor voices using the latest
historical research on, and facts
about, the Holocaust.
“
As the idea to redesign our
permanent exhibit began and
got moving, Guy was always
interested in talking about it,
”
said Mark Mulder, The HC’s
director of curatorial affairs.
“He had worked on exhibits in
the past and wanted to discuss
the approaches we were think-
ing about. He was even working
on an exhibit project about Jews
rescuing Jews. While that spe-
cific theme is not a direct focus
of the new exhibit, his convic-
tion that the Jewish experience,
as opposed to that of the per-
petrator, should be the focus of
Holocaust narrative, absolutely
lives on.
”
Stern often worked six days a
week at The HC. Staff members
recalled cherished lunchtime
gatherings in the museum’s
lunchroom where Guy would
hold court sharing stories. He
had a particular fondness and
respect for the younger staff
members.
During his 100th birthday
celebration at the The HC, he
referred to the younger gen-
eration of staff in his remarks.
“Some of you have flattered me
by telling me that they learned
something from this dubious
sagacity of this oldster. Well,
that learning process is two-
fold. I was more the beneficiary
of your generational wisdom.
Do not let hubris or false pride
stand in the way of learning
from that young woman or fel-
low one desk removed.
”
COMPANION IN LIFE
The dedication page in Stern’s
memoir reads: “To my wife,
Susanna Piontek, beloved com-
panion in life, sage advisor and
fellow writer.
”
In the closing remarks to a
chapter dedicated to her, Stern
wrote: “On June 4, 1944, as a
soldier, I conquered Normandy.
On June 9, 2004, as private
citizen Stern, I conquered
what turned out to be my soul
mate. One of Rodgers and
Hammerstein’s songs ends with
the line, ‘Once you have found
her, never let her go.
’ I followed
this advice.
”
It will not be easy for Susanna
to let go of her beloved Guy,
but she doesn’t look back with
regrets. She was his confidant,
protector and his soulmate
whose loving hand contributed
to his incredible longevity.
“
At home, we always spoke
German,
” said Susanna, also
a writer. “
And we spoke a lot.
On weekends, we often had
conversations for several hours
about the topics we loved —
foremost literature, music,
theater, history and politics.
We had a very similar sense of
humor and were both quick
with repartee. We laughed a lot
together.
”
Guy Stern made a lot of
people laugh. For a man who
witnessed and experienced the
worst of mankind, he found a
way to add lightness to every
conversation he was in. His
beautiful melodic voice alone
put people at ease. You became
his friend from the word hello.
Stern was also fully cognizant
of the current unsettling
climate of the world today. In a
keynote address to dignitaries
in a return visit to Germany,
he alluded to the divisiveness
in our country and the overall
volatility in the world when he
said: “Beware of the beginning
of tyranny. Democracy is a very
fragile flower.
”
Guy Stern passed away,
but his words, his deeds, his
example will forever echo in
the halls of universities, The
Zekelman Holocaust Center
and in the hearts and minds of
everyone he touched around
the globe. His memory is a
flower that will forever bloom.
Guy Stern was the beloved
husband of Susanna Stern
(Piontek) and father of the late
Mark Stern. Contributions
may be made to The Guy Stern
Endowment Fund in Exile and
Holocaust Studies at Wayne
State University, Fund Office,
5700 Cass Ave., Suite 1200,
Detroit, MI 48202 (Memo line
on check: Guy Stern/CLAS
#060235 or call 1-800-WSU-
GIVE); Temple Shir Shalom,
West Bloomfield; Congregation
T’
chiyah, Ferndale; or The
Zekelman Holocaust Center,
Farmington Hills.
Susanna and
Guy Stern
MARIE DENISE REED