Lawrence Daniel Stern
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of loving father, grandfather and husband, Lawrence Daniel Stern, a retired General Surgeon. Dr. Stern died peacefully in his sleep after a short illness, on October 8, 2017. Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on March 5, 1929, he entered premed studies at the University of Manitoba at age 16, medical school at 19, and graduated medical school at 23. Starting out as a general practitioner in Regina, Saskatchewan, he served surgical residency at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Los Angeles, and then at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, New York. After completing residency, he settled in San Jose in 1959 with his first wife, and later Los Gatos, California, where his children were born and raised.
Dr. Stern founded the Santa Clara County Surgical Society in the late 1970’s, where he was elected its first president. Surgical symposiums featuring doctors, specialists from all over the world were held every year in pursuit of better burn treatment. A pioneer in this field, he was one of the first to use the Jacuzzi as a method for removing burned skin. His heartfelt dedication to the survival of countless burn patients paid off in the high rate of his successful recoveries. Having been invited several times over the years to deliver case papers at several International Burn Therapy Congresses, he was chosen as one of only four surgeons from the USA to speak in Beijing as a guest of the Chinese government in 1978, coincidentally during the beginning of the Democracy Wall period. During the 1970s he traveled extensively, not only for pleasure but also for medical relief, in particular treating cleft palates in Mexico.
He married Elizabeth Moder in 1984, and they relocated to Palo Alto. He practiced surgery until his retirement in 2014 at the age of 85. He lived a long, full life and throughout his many years as a surgeon he touched, saved and impacted so many lives.
He will be remembered vividly not only for his intellect but for his exuberant joy in even the simplest of moments. From the way his shoulders bounced when he laughed, how he’d giggle when spicy food would make him break a sweat... To the way he always loved wearing his favorite black beret.
An avid and voracious reader, with hundreds of corresponding contacts years before the advent of social media, Dr. Stern enjoyed history, travel, skiing, swimming, walking, and gardening among many other interests. He was a long-time opera and theater-goer and a great lover of the arts in general. He is survived and remembered fondly by his wife of 33 years, Elizabeth; three children: Ted Stern (Ruth) in Seattle; Jonathan Stern (Lesly) in Albuquerque; and Emily Stern (Wolfgang Philipp) in Switzerland; four grandchildren: Taylor, Alexandra, Evan; and Adrienne Stern; and his sister, Geri Stern (Alan Blavins); as well as many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
At his request, services are not being held. If you would like to make a donation in his memory send to Children’s Health Council at, chconline.org.