Stephanie Stern

Stephanie Gerber Stern passed away on December 30th, 2024.  She was born in Caribou, Maine on December 29th, 1941.  (She was told this was the day of a record snowstorm.)  Her parents were Saul and Pearl (Cohen) Gerber.  The family moved to Portland when Stephanie was a few months old.  She  attended Portland schools and graduated from Deering High School in 1960.  She attended the University of Miami in Miami, Florida where she met her Husband Stuart Stern.  She then attended the University of New Hampshire where her husband received his Master’s degree, and graduated from the University of Maine in Decemberof 1964.  She also received her Master’s degree from the University of Maine.

She began her teaching career at Deering High School in February of 1965.  She taught Biology and Health At Deering for eight years and taught Biology and Anatomy and Physiology at Portland High School for twenty years.  She was the Cluster Coordinator (department head) at Portland High for seventeen years.  At Portland High she won the Russell Award which recognizes outstanding teaching in the classroom.  She spent many years as the Yearbook advisor at Portland High.  She always said she loved her job, her students, and looked forward to every day, which is different if you taught.

Stephanie came from a golfing family and won the Women’s Championship in 1989 at Riverside Golf Course where she belonged until she moved to Estero, Florida.  After retirement in Florida she belonged to Pelican Sound Golf and River Club.  In 2013 she had two holes in one within seven weeks at Pelican Sound.  She served as president of the Women’s Association at both clubs.

Stephanie played tournament Mah Jongg in southwest Florida where she was known for her winning ways.

She was a long time member of Temple Beth-El in Portland, Maine and served as president of the Sisterhood.  She was a life member of Hadassah, National Council of Jewish Women, and Cedars.

She is survived by husband Stuart Stern of Estero, Florida; daughter Merdith Stern Cavalieri and son-in-law Roberto Cavalieri of Estero, Florida; son Jeffrey Stern and Daughter-in-law JoAnn of Winthrop, Maine; and grandchildren Max, Gabriel and Kai.  She is also survived by her sister Jill Thaler and brother-in-law Michael of Cranston, Rhode Island and brother-in-law Allen Stern.  She is survived by sister-in-law Joan Stern Cohen of Raleigh, North Carolina.  She also has many nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held for Stephanie on June 18th at 1:00 pm at Temple Beth El Memorial Park in Portland, Maine.  A celebration of Stephanie’s life will be held at 2:00 pm at Bruno’s Restaurant, 33 Allen Ave in Portland.