Melvin Stern

July 5, 1924 - March 8, 2023

LA JOLLA — Melvin Stern of La Jolla, California, died peacefully Wednesday morning, March 8, having spent his last two weeks of declining health surrounded by loving family members. Melvin was born in 1924 in Waukegan, Illinois. After a year in college at the University of Illinois, he began his military service in the army in 1943. He served for three years on bases throughout the United States, primarily as a drummer in the Army Air Force Band, after Major Glenn Miller recommended him. Mel married the love of his life, Marilyn Stern, in 1948, and they were married for 68 years until Marilyn’s death in 2017.

Mel owned and managed a men’s clothing store in Waukegan for many years until he retired in 1975. He was active in public life in Waukegan, playing leading roles in numerous plays while performing for thousands of people, serving as the President of his synagogue’s B’nai Brith chapter, and sitting on the city’s Decency Board upon appointment by the mayor. After retiring, Mel and Marilyn moved to La

Jolla, a town they loved and lived happily in, the remainder of their lives.

Mel is survived by three sons — Bob, Gary, and Craig — two daughters-in-law, six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren, all of whom will miss him dearly. His funeral service was held at El Camino Memorial Park in San Diego on March 15. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in memory of Melvin Stern to support Scripps Memorial Hospital, La Jolla. https://donate. scripps.org/giving/ scrippshealth. To donate by check, please mail donations to Scripps Health Foundation, PO Box 2669, La Jolla, CA 92038.