Harris I. Stern

Harris I. Stern April 27, 1928 – March 27, 2026

Harris I. Stern passed away on March 27, 2026, at the age of 97, concluding a life defined by devotion to family, intellectual curiosity, generosity, and remarkable business leadership.

Harris was married to Harriet Asher for fourteen years before her untimely passing. He later shared fiftyfour years of marriage with Gerrie Seltzer Tellem, who predeceased him in 2022. Both marriages were central to his life, and family remained his greatest source of pride and fulfillment.

Harris was a devoted father to Jamisen Shrut (Barry), Arn Tellem (Nancy), Rhonda Sacks (Jeffrey), and Pamela Goldman (Andrew). He was the beloved brother of the late Louise Shanis (Joseph). He was a loving grandfather to Kimberly, Philip, Michael (Emma), Matthew (Rachel), Eric (Emily), Jonathan (Jenny), Allison (Sammy), Ellissa, Sophie, and Hope, and a cherished great grandfather to Theo, Olive, Shea, Madeline, Gemma, Lea, Asher, and Mara. Harris took special pride in his ever growing family, often noting with joy that it numbered thirty-one across children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Born on April 27, 1928, Harris was educated at George School in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where he developed lifelong passions for swimming, tennis, and the violin. He went on to graduate from Haverford College, where he was a member of the undefeated 1950 tennis team. His education also included a period of study abroad in Oslo, Norway, reflecting his early interest in the wider world.

Although admitted to Harvard Business School, Harris chose a different path after his father persuaded him that the best business education could be gained firsthand. He joined the family department store, Stern and Company, located at Seventh and Market Streets in downtown Philadelphia. Founded by his grandfather in the nineteenth century, the store was already a Philadelphia institution when Harris entered the business.

Only a few years after joining the company, Harris’s father’s health declined, and following his father’s passing, Harris assumed the role of President. Over the nearly forty years he was with the business, until his retirement in 1991, Stern and Company expanded to twentyeight locations throughout Eastern Pennsylvania. Harris became a respected member of a close knit group of Philadelphia retail executives that included leaders from Gimbels, Lit Brothers, and Wanamaker’s.

Harris spent his entire life giving generously to others through charitable efforts. Following his retirement, he devoted considerable time and energy to fundraising on behalf of Moss Rehabilitation Institute and Hahnemann Hospital’s Likoff Cardiovascular Institute, causes that reflected his deep commitment to healthcare, community, and service.

His sense of civic responsibility was also evident when research revealed that Thomas Jefferson had lived at the southwest corner of Seventh and Market Streets, where the Stern and Company parking lot stood. The property was donated for the Bicentennial, enabling the construction of the Graff House and Freedom Library, which commemorates Jefferson’s work on the Declaration of Independence.

Harris I. Stern will be remembered for his generosity, his thoughtful leadership, and a life lived with purpose, discipline, and quiet distinction. His legacy endures through the many lives he touched and the family he so deeply cherished.

Contribution in his memory can be made to the Alzheimer's Association www.alz.org or to Jewish Federation Of Greater Philadelphia www.jewishphilly.org