Herbert U. Stern

May 4, 2023 after a brief illness. He was surrounded by his loving family and cared for at Baylor Scott & White Round Rock Hospital.

Herb, born Ulrich Leopold Stern on October 14, 1919 in Berlin, Germany, was the only son of Jacob Herbert Stern, an insurance broker, and Lucy Abramowski, a Berlin socialite. He had one sister, Barbara (“Babs”), 3 years younger. Herb attended the Herder Gymnasium school and enjoyed a privileged life and considerable exposure to the arts, literature and history. In 1932, as the Nazi Party came to power, Herb found his life began to change drastically. In 1933 his mother died, and in 1934, his father was arrested by the Gestapo for trying to help Jewish friends buy foreign passports, while his sister was sent to live with family in Czechoslovakia. Herb was forced to wear the Jewish star on his clothes, could no longer attend school and lived with a grandmother and then with family friends. In 1936, at the age of 16, he finally received his visa to escape to America. His father was released from prison two days before Herb sailed.

Once in the US, Herb lived with the Steiner family, distant cousins in Cincinnati, OH who sponsored him. He was also advised to change his first name because it sounded “too German” and chose his father’s middle name. He finished high school at The University School preparatory school, where he was valedictorian of his class. He attended the University of Cincinnati, majoring in economics and minoring in history. He was drafted into the US Army in 1941, unable to attend his graduation ceremony and just weeks before receiving his citizenship papers.

He soon joined the elite Ninth Infantry Division and participated in one of the first amphibious landings of WWII in French Morocco. Herb went on to fight in 8 major campaigns from 1942-1945, including in the D-Day Invasion of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge. He reunited with his father, who had fled to England and remarried, but was unable to see his sister, who also fled to England. Herb first served as an Army medic administrator and later was sent to London, England to receive specialized intelligence training (among the first in the US Army) because he spoke fluent German and French. His mastery in intelligence interrogation techniques, map deciphering and work with French resistance fighters led him to receive a Certificate of Commendation and the Bronze Star. He also received 8 Campaign Stars, 2 Purple Hearts, and Belgian and French Fourrageres. In 2013, Herb was awarded the French Legion of Honor “Chevalier” from the French government, and in 2017, he received the Texas Liberator Medal for his participation in the liberation of the Nordhausen slave labor camp in Germany. Herb’s biography, with details of his war years, has been published in Tattooed On My Soul-Texas Veterans Remember World War II (Texas A & M University Press) and The Texas Liberators-Veteran Narratives From World War II (Texas Tech University Press). His interviews are archived with Baylor University Institute for Oral History, The Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission, the Admiral Nimitz Museum (Fredericksburg, TX) and Metropolitan Libraries of Houston.

After the war, Herb married Catherine “Cathy” Crowninshield Easton on November 30, 1946 in New York City. The couple originally lived in Cincinnati but were soon transferred to Houston, where Herb became District Manager for the David J. Joseph Co., a scrap metal brokerage firm based in Cincinnati. He went on to represent the company in the southwest, western, Pacific northwest and mountain states, as well as in Mexico and Europe. He served as president of the Gulf Coast Chapter of the Scrap Metal Recycling Industry, director-at-large for the national board of the Iron & Steel Institute, and member of the American Foundry Society. After 38 years with the company, he retired. He soon joined Valpers Co., a mergers, acquisition and industrial recruiting firm for oil, gas, valve and industrial plumbing in Houston. He retired fully in 2008 at the age of 88.

Herb and Cathy had three children - Nancy, Peter and Charles. Their marriage lasted over 76 years and has been admired for its dedication, compassion, humor and love by all who knew them. Herb was a charter member of the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Holocaust Museum Houston, the World War II Museum in New Orleans, the Ninth Infantry Division Association, and the original Contemporary Arts Museum of Houston. He was a longtime member of the Houston Symphony and the Houston Grand Opera, and an avid supporter of dance and theater. He loved to play tennis, swim, hike in Rocky Mountain National Park, landscape his Houston home and country cabin in New Ulm, cook, read and write many stories. In later life, he and Cathy participated in a book club and writing groups, and Herb shared stories of his life with veterans groups, school groups, community organizations, churches and senior living facilities. He was known for his dedication to family and friends, his integrity, his incredible memory, and his ability to make everyone laugh with his keen sense of humor and fun.

Herb was preceded in death by his parents, Jacob and Lucy, his step-mother, Annie Reimann, his Steiner family members and his sister, Barbara “Babs” Quinn.

He is survived by his loving wife, Cathy (Austin, TX), daughter Nancy Stern Bain (Richard Rutner)-Austin, TX, son Peter Stern (Deborah)-Topeka, KS, son Dr. Charles Stern (Dr. Sharon)-Waco, TX; grandchildren Charles K. Stern-Lenexa, KS, Dr. Caroline Stern (Rob Kancilia)-Denver, Co & Tokyo, Japan, Ian Rutner (Sophia Rusu)-Austin, TX & Philadelphia, PA, Dr. Colin Rutner-New Orleans, LA, Sarah Stern Ochel (Jordan)-Waco, TX, Emily Stern Cox (Dr. Andrew)-Dallas, TX, Rachel Stern (Nathan Parven)-Leander, TX; great-grandchildren Jacob and Molly Cox, and Charlotte Ochel, nephew James Quinn (Lynne), niece Sue Quinn Swenson (Joe-decd.), niece Ann Quinn Todd (Jerry), niece Nancy Quinn Llamo (Hugo), niece Janet Friedman Pizzo (Cpt.Joseph Lynn), nephew Bruce Friedman (Amy), great-niece Heather Swenson, great-nephews Woody and Jack Quinn, numerous cousins, friends, colleagues and honorary family members. The family wishes to thank Herb’s doctors, medical team and caregivers.

A Family Visit will take place on Saturday, August 19, 2023 from 4:00 to 6:00pm at Cook-Walden/ Capital Parks Funeral Home, 14501 North IH-35, Pflugerville, TX 78660, and a Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, August 20, 2023 from 1:00-3:00pm at the same location.

The service will also be live-streamed. For more information, please email: [email protected]

Memorial donations may be sent to:

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum-Tribute Program: https://donate.ushmm.org/6hRw6kqugUOvJLNKCIbD1g2

The Holocaust Museum Houston: https://hmh.org/give/

Friends of the National WWII Memorial (D.C.): https://www.wwiimemorialfriends.org/

The National WWII Museum - New Orleans: https://www.nationalww2museum.org/give

The Ninth Infantry Division Association, ℅ M. Cooper, 11218 Timberline Rd, Houston, TX 77043,

OR the charitable organization of your choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldencapitalparks.com for the Stern family.