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