I'm so sorry to know you left us, that late. You've been on my mind a lot lately and just today I found out.
I was fortunate to have you in my life as a mentor, a friend and a beautiful human being. I always had you, fondly in my heart as the person who surrounded me with kindness and support when I needed them most, being lonely and thousands of miles away from home. 
My prayers and gratitude to you and condolence to your family.

I am so sorry to learn so late of the passing of a fabulous person.  I was lucky enough to be his mentee and later a collaborator. I recently retired from Academia and in 35 years at UCSF, I can only remember one other person as cool as Robert.  This is a huge loss but i was lucky to know him.

Dear David, Tali and Aaron - I may have once met you, Aaron, many years ago when I accompanied your dad and daughter on a date, but I've heard about all of you. Your dad was a dear friend to me when I worked at Touro College. He took me in and under his wing, spiritually lifting me up on hard days and providing me with chocolate and laughter anytime I needed. 

I know this post is two years too late, but I wanted you to know that your dad remains a living force in my heart. I was walking past the Neue Gallery two nights ago and I remembered your father and I there.

He was a gem. May his memory be for a blessing for all of you, as it is a blessing for me.


RIP Robert,
you were such an inspiration, full of curiosity and always encouraging others to reach their fullest potential.  Visiting me as a Peace Corps volunteer and travelling through India together left me with lifelong memories of your sense of adventure and willingness to always explore life further.  

You always told me that you kept a box of our correspondence while I was writing from Nepal, and would only release them to me if I agreed to publish them.  I'm sad you are still with us to request them now, as I am ready.  Aaron, if you see this please reach out to me on Facebook or at karma9762@yahoo.com.   Robert will continue inspiring so many, and we are all so fortunate to have known him.

I am now saddened to no end by the loss of another pillar in the  medical community.   A master who always was kind with his students no matter what level they were on their journey through medicine  and life.  He was always a warm smile, an open heart and mind.  I was led here as I was wishing him a belated Father's Day. 

Thank you Prof. Dr. Robert Stern for always being a champion for the students who have been honored enough to call you a professor.  I was about to mail him an antique  book of pathology, but it will now stay in my library next to his text and remind me of our loss.

Prof. Dr. Stern  was everything  a true teaching physician scientist should be, he was also a magnificent mentor, friend and guide to many.  That is why I am still tearfully accepting our loss. 

Thank you is a feeble couple of words that I can muster and will never convey our gratitude to this master.

Sincerely, 

Sobbing Student


Righteous and brave, He was a man with a mind and spirit in constant evolution, a human being who loved human beings without prejudice.  Dr. Stern - thank you for helping me, probably much more than you knew. I hope some day that we meet again, perhaps in another life or another form and we talk on the mountain top in a house of wisdom. 

- Andrew

Dear Robert:
it's kind of a stretch to assume, or better: to believe that you will read my lines. But, hey, believing always is a stretch - wouldn't you agree?
And this to YOU - my scientific educator, my mentor, my ever-thriving encouragement to question things, to seek for proof and answers.
When it came to scientific education - you formed me to a certain degree. Introducing me into your world of mind-buggling brainstorms, your enriching as well as confusing lab conferences, sharing thoughts and findings with all the other like-minded young brains, coming to you for advice, for training, for guidance, for education.
What a Mensch you were!
You achieved so much,  but you handed out even more.
You were certainly no saint, but you were one of my most favourite fellow human beings.
You taught me science AND life. You made so many gifts to me: trust, time, kindness, reflection, culture, wisdom.
You were able to enrich so many people you encountered, because you deeply loved so many of them. You loved the good in us. And therefore you have been loved. By your students (I can't even start to recount how many times you were awarded the MVT (Most Valuable Teacher) award at UCSF), and by me.
I loved you for so many things and traces and habits and gestures.
And some things turned out to last in my memory: you, accompanying me in my car to pass the DMV driving test. You, walking the streets with me, looking for a decent place to stay during my 2 years of postdoc grant time in your lab. You, telling me never to settle for less.
This I did. And oh yes, this you did also, when it came to handing out the gifts of humanity.
Robert: you were a beacon.  At a certain period in my life, you were my guiding light. I miss you sooo much.
The life you lived presented a perfect example of what the UC carries in its code of arms: Let There Be Light!
I want to thank you, my dear friend, and I sincerely hope to see you one day - but not too soon.
Ludger (with Iris, Miriam, Laura, and Lucas)

Dear Robert,

we only met through our dear joint friend Matthias in Germany late last year. A wonderful French lunch in Harlem and dinner in Koreatown later I felt like a long time friend in no time. Your ability to make others feel welcome, appreciated,  supported and genuinely loved in no time is amazing to me. The openness of your spirit and your broad, global mind  and deeply personal and present way of holding conversations and connecting have been touching and enriching in a fundamental way that belies the few hours we really got to spend together. Your love of life, mankind and medicine  were so radiant despite you already going through intensive treatment. You said "denial works wonders" and your wit and cheekiness were shining bright. I like to believe that somehow these words of appreciation and gratitude reach you and I know you enriched and inspired me and whoever had you as family, a friend or as a professor was and is blessed.

With love and admiration.

Stefan Wisbauer

I express my deepest condolences and sympathy to the family. Robert Stern was an amazing and brilliant man and I am proud to could have been his friend and co-author. Although we collaborated remotely for several years, I have met Robert only once in 2009 during his visit to Brussels, Belgium. I will always bear warmest memories of him. May he rest in peace.
Grigorij Kogan 

Dear Aaron and family, I am very sorry for your loss. Dr. Stern was a kind and generous man as well as a creative scientist. He made it possible for many people, including myself, to come to UCSF and succeed. He will be missed. Please accept my condolences. 

Dear Tali David and Aharon,
Please accept my sincere and deepest condolences for your loss.
I met Robert in June 1991 when he, as a member of the gay and lesbian Jewish congregation of “Sha’ar Zahav”, hosted me and few other guys who attended the conference of Jewish GLBT organizations. We had a wonderful time thanks to his wonderful hospitality. We kept in touch ever since.
In 1996 he hosted me and my kids in your Belvedere home for my son’s Bar Mitzva trip. I remember we all slept on the floor in the gallery room in the basement since the B&B was already running and the house was full. He even let me drive his black Camaro to Yosemite Park.
He visited me every time he visited Israel, in his trips to Weitzman Institute and Bir Zeit University.
Last time we met was when he hosted me in NYC few years ago.
We spoke few weeks ago and he invited me to come and visit. I am so sorry I didn’t get the chance to see him one more time.
Your father was a wonderful man. So vivid, so funny, witty,  so smart such a mentch. I will miss him greatly.
May he rest in peace.
Hugs to you and your families.


It is with great sadness that we all learn about the passing of Dr. Stern. He was always kind to all his students and willing to help anyone with a smile. It is a great loss for the TouroCOM Family. Rest in Peace Dr. Stern. You will be missed! 

At one point all of us medical students were pretty stressed about starting rotations in the hospital.  Somehow noticing the nuance of this by those in the room, Dr. Stern instantly stopped the regular teaching to address us, not as students of his, but as younger colleagues needing words of wisdom and support.  He went on to explain how we were at the cutting edge of medical knowledge, being the most primed and up to date even compared to the oldest of doctors we would meet, because we were so fresh in the studies of medicine.  Not only could he recognize the unspoken need we had, but he had an incredible way of addressing it.  Truly it was an immense honor to have been taught by him.  He showcased how to BE a physician.  May his family find joy in celebration of the many positive ways he impacted my life, as well as countless others.  I wouldn’t be half the Doctor I am today without his direction.

My sincere sympathy to Robert's family. I met Robert because we had a shared interest in hyaluronidase research. He was a very likable man and we quickly became friends. I gained valuable insight into the hyaluronidase field- and so many other topics- through our discussions.  He was a genuinely kind and compassionate man who will be greatly missed. 

My very sincere and heart felt condolences to all of the family.
 Robert was a wonderful colleague who gave freely of his wisdom and expertise to all in the field. He knew so much and added so much to our field; it is a bit trite of me to say that he cannot be replaced. He will be missed.
My warmest best wishes, ARNIE CAPLAN

Robert was an exceptionally caring and kind person, as well as a tireless scientist and collaborator.  I shared many happy times with him at Hyaluronan Society Meetings, Gordon Conferences, as well as visiting with my family  in Cleveland, San Francisco and New York.  He achieved his long standing dream to never give up working in science and inspiring medical students.  As evidence, he even sent us a new manuscript just a few months ago.   Robert was a particularly fun character that so many of us will miss!

My deepest condolences to Robert's family.  He  frequently mentioned you all so lovingly and proudly, and in particularly raved about his beloved grandchildren and sent pictures from time to time.
I join you in celebrating Robert's extraordinary life, and mourning his loss.

-Carol de la Motte



He was a kind brilliant man.  His experience brought so much to our education and we were lucky to have him as a teacher and mentor at TouroCOM.  He is missed and mourned.

To the family, I am sorry for your loss. Dr. Stern was one of the best professors I had at TouroCOM. Always smiling, willing to answer questions, engage in a great discussion, and without fail would follow-up with a fun anecdote or story. It was an honor to know and learn from him, and the cheerful atmosphere he would bring to any room will be missed.

One of the smartest professors who have ever taught me...I learned a lot from him, sorry to hear that he passed, he will be missed!! 

I was one of his students at TouroCOM. One morning after lecture, I complemented his tie.  He was alwase a sharply dressed gentleman. He immediatly began to untie it, take ot out of his shirt and put it on me.  Very selfless and one of the teachers I'll alwase remember.

OBITUARY

Dr. Robert Stern

Passed away on 3 MAY, 2018

Riverside Memorial Chapel

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Updates

Services