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 fifty-four 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.

Following his father’s passing, Harris assumed the role of President at age 26 and led the company for nearly four decades until his retirement in 1991. Under his leadership, Stern and Company expanded to twenty-eight locations throughout Eastern Pennsylvania, South Jersey and Delaware. A respected member of a closeknit group of Philadelphia retail executives that included leaders from Gimbels, Lit Brothers, and Wanamaker’s, Harris provided valued perspective that enhanced the Philadelphia retail environment.

Known for his creativity and analytical mind, Harris introduced innovative sales events that set Stern and Company apart and earned the admiration and envy of competitors. Long before computers were commonplace, he devised sophisticated tracking systems that analyzed sales using multiple variables, including seasonality, day of the week, and even weather conditions. He also implemented customer-friendly credit options well before the rise of modern credit cards, reinforcing the store’s reputation for service and accessibility.

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 Foundation, 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. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Jewish Federation Of Greater Philadelphia (www.jewishphilly.org) or the Alzheimer's Association (www.alz.org).