Life Tributes

Clara Stern May 17, 1927 - February 9, 2023

Clara Stern died peacefully at home at age 95. Born in Chicago Il, the youngest of three children, to Arthur and Rae Ginsburg, immigrants from Russia. The family moved to Boyle Heights, LA when she was 3, and suffered hard times during the Great Depression. Clara met Robert Stern of Albuquerque NM, a WWII veteran, at UC Berkeley in 1946 and they married in 1947. Children followed, Nicholas, 1952, Arthur 1957, and Susanna (Suki) 1960. Clara loved the brown shingle house in No Berkeley the family purchased in 1957. She graduated from UCB with a BA in Anthro, later with a MA in Library Science. She worked as a research librarian at the Institute of Industrial Relations until retirement in 1991, having declined the institute directorship. Food was one of Clara’s love languages, cooking dishes from every culture, and trying new recipes on guests. Famous for dubbing many of her experiments a “disaster,” we all looked forward to her next gustatory disaster. She hosted her last Thanksgiving dinner at 95. Clara often looked back on the family sabbatical in London, 1968, as the best year of her life. Other loves included quilting, gardening, restoring old furniture, camping, travel, movies, bird watching, museums, and she was never without a book or a beloved cat. A devoted wife, Clara, oversaw Robert’s care during a 5-year decline with Parkinson’s. After his death in 2014, Clara filled her time with walks and meals with friends old and new, a book club, frequent family get togethers, gardening, and new craft projects. She lived independently to her last day. If there is an afterlife, she wanted to come back as an otter.

Clara was predeceased by daughter, Susanna (Suki)

Berro, and is survived and dearly missed by sons Nicholas, Arthur (Eric), ex-daughter-in-law, Janice, grandchildren, Pippa, Alyson, Adam, Emma, Isadora, Bianca, and great grandson, Ben. A Tea and Celebration of Life will be held, July 22, in Albany CA. For more information: janice.stern@ comcast.net