Melvin "Buddy" Stein

Buddy graduated from the University of Alabama in 1942 with a bachelor of science degree in business administration. He served as a Captain in the United States Army for 4 years during World War II, mostly overseas in the Africa-Middle East Theater ascaptain in Corps of Military Police and later serving an additional 8 years in the Army Reserves.

Buddy's many business and professional associations ranged from retail (The Fair Store) to real estate (Stein Investments) to banking (Guarantee Saving and Loan) and included past President of Prichard Junior Chamber of Commerce, past President of Prichard Merchants Association, served as Director of Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, Co-Organizer of Guarantee Saving and Loan where he served as Director and Officer through June of 1982, Director of Mobile Better Business Bureau, Regional Director of National Retail Merchants Association, elected to Board of Directors of Merchants National Bank (now Regions Bank) in September of 1982, past Director of Gulf Health, Inc., and Julius T. Wrights (Building Committee). His civil and religious affiliations included past President of the Ahavas Chesed Synagogue and Springhill Avenue Temple, as well as being a major contributor to the United Jewish Welfare Fund. Also served as Director of Mobile Area Red Cross, member of Board of Trustees Mobile Infirmary (since 1971), Director of Mobile Community Foundation (since 1977), Advisory Board of Contact Mobile (Help Line), United Way of Southwest Alabama, Co-Chairman of Mobile Preschool for the Deaf, Charter Member of Alexis de Tocqueville Society, Co-Chairman Dumas Wesley Campaign, Campaign Supporter for Mobile Co. Dept. of Human Resources Foster/Residential Care Endowment and Salvation Army. Active in the Republican Party at County, State and National levels, he was an honorary delegate to National Republican Presidential Convention in New Orleans. He was a Sustaining Member of the Republican National Committee, a member of Alabama Republican Party and the American Security Council National Advisory Board.

Buddy was a campaign worker in the Bush nomination and election campaign and was active in the elections of U.S. Senator Howell Heflin, U.S. Congressman Jack Edwards, and U.S. Senator Richard Shelby.

He was preceded in death by his beloved sister, Sarah Friedman and his oldest daughter, Sylvia Stein Newman and survived by Doris Claire Stein and 4 children: David (Veritha) Stein of Mobile; Abbe Fass of Greenville, SC; Jonathan (Pam) Stein of Mobile; and Emily Miles of Mobile; and 7 grandchildren, Michael Stein, Misty (Gary) Connick, Reid-Claire Stein and Katherine Miles, of Mobile; Sydney (Brian) Groll and Madelyn Fass of Greenville, SC; Rebecca Bierman of Atlanta, Ga. and great-granddaughters, Kaylee Connick and Kinley Connick.

Funeral services will be held graveside for family and friends on Tuesday August 12, at 10:00 AM, at Congregation Ahavas Chesed Cemetery (Jewish Cemetery on Owens Street). The family is accepting visitors at Melvin Stein's residence (208 Childree Drive) at 4:30 PM with a minyan.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Congregation Ahavas Chesed at 705 Regents Way, Mobile, Alabama 36609 or Springhill Avenue Temple at 1769 Springhill Avenue, Mobile, Alabama 36607 or USA Mitchell Cancer Institute at Office of Development, 307 N. University Boulevard, TRP Building III, Suite 2150, Mobile, Alabama 36688-0002. Condolences may be offered at www.radneyfuneralhome-mobile.com. Arrangements by Radney Funeral Home, 3155 Dauphin Street, Mobile, Alabama 36606.