APRIL 11 • 2024 | 37

in German at Columbia University in 
1954. In 1980, upon the invitation of 
Lenya, Guy became a member of the 
board.
In his video tribute, Dr. Kim 
Kowalke, president and CEO of the 
foundation, proudly spoke about the 
high honor he was able to bestow upon 
his lifelong friend. “In December of 
2021, just four weeks before his 100th 
birthday, the board of trustees of the 
Kurt Weill Foundation for Music 
elected Guy Stern its first and only 
lifetime trustee.”

THE HC REMEMBERS
Mark Mulder, director of Curatorial 
Affairs at The HC, offered remarks on 
behalf of the staff of the museum. He 
painted a picture of a man, who despite 
his legendary status, seemed to just blend 
in as one of the staff. 
“He never put himself above others,” 
said Mulder. “He made sure everyone 
felt unique, no matter what your role 
here was or how old you were.”
Mulder was 36-years old, Stern 90, 
when they met. “I feel him everywhere 
I go here, and with everything I 
do.” He concluded his tribute by 
imploring those in attendance and 
those streaming the memorial — “To 
be better like Guy and take the lessons 
that we’ve learned today, by talking 

about him in memory of him, and 
apply them to your lives and to be a 
little bit more like Guy.”

A GRATEUL SUSANNA STERN
The memorial fittingly concluded 
with remarks by Guy’s beloved wife 
Susanna. “Good morning in the U.S., 
good afternoon in Europe,” she proudly 
said to the filled auditorium at The HC 
and viewers streaming the program in 
Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France, 
and the U.K.
“Today he’s here,” she said of Guy. 
“He is with us: with me, his wife, with 
his friends, with his dear colleagues 
and other veterans. And you know 
what has brought him back today, just 
for this hour on a Sunday morning? 
Love. We all came together today to 
focus on our love and respect for Guy.” 
She described the bond Guy had 
with other veterans and the medical 
help he got from the VA in Ann Arbor. 
“These were his buddies, there he felt 
understood,” she said. Feelings that 
ultimately led to his desire to be buried 
in the Great Lakes National Cemetery 
in Holly. 
“Today he is among us. I see him: 
with a big smile on his face, happy and 
proud that we came together to honor 
him. He looks ageless and sweet, as 
always, and he wears his favorite pink 
jacket. And he says: ‘I exceeded my 
expiration date by more than 20 years. 

I was able to work until I was 100 years 
old. Don’t be sad that I’m gone. Rather, 
be joyful that I was with you for such a 
long time.’“
Joy certainly was the order of the 
day. Each tribute sharing a common 
theme — celebrating Stern’s intel-
lect, his passion, his vitality and most 
importantly, remembering, as Susanna 
said, that “Guy really made a differ-
ence in many people’s lives.” That was 
and always will be the legacy of Dr. 
Günther “Guy” Stern.
A reception followed the program, 
with guests invited to view a display of 
artifacts from Guy’s collections while 
enjoying recordings of his favorite 
music and his favorite dessert, Key 
Lime pie. Truly a sweet ending to a 
memorable day.
Only a few hours after Guy Stern’s 
memorial program concluded, Susanna 
told me that she received a phone call 
from her 99-year old friend Eric Billes, 
a retired dentist who fled Vienna in the 
late 1930s. Unable to attend the event 
at The HC, he watched online from his 
home. 
He expressed how lovely the trib-
utes were but immediately reflected 
about something that he was surprised 
no one mentioned in their remarks. 
He reminded Susanna that “Stern” in 
German means “Star,” expressing in so 
many words that Guy was every bit of 
a shining star. Indeed, a star that will 
forever sparkle and bring light into all 
of our lives. 

Jewish War Veterans and Ladies Auxiliary 
honor their beloved member Guy Stern.

