Jack was brought up in East London until the age of seven and then entered Norwood together with his siblings. He left school at 15 and went to work for the Columbia Graphophone Company (later EMI), where he gained his love of opera, which stayed with him all his life. When war broke out, Jack volunteered for the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) where he trained as a telegraphist. He took part in the Italy and Sicily landings in 1943, and he was awarded a commission. Just after joining the RNVR he met and married Isabel, known as Lal to those of us in Norwich, although they were separated for most of the war. After the war he set up a jewellery shop in Peterborough with Lal’s brother; the business did well and he opened a second shop in Norwich in 1950, his partner continuing to run the shop in Peterborough.
Jack and Lal had four sons, Richard, Alan, Jeffrey and Robert and in 1951 they joined the Synagogue where he soon became involved and by 1952 was a member of the shul committee and was on the committee for 50 years, Treasurer twice, Vice President nine times and President twelve times. A record still to be broken. He was also a committed member of NISS (Norwich Israel and Social Society). His Hebrew was excellent – his grandfather, who was a Hebrew teacher taught him at the age of nine. He contributed over the years with the reading of many haftarot on Shabbat and also teaching the Barmitzvah boys. In 1998, he received a commendation from the Chief Rabbi, Sir Jonathan Sacks for all his work for our community. His wife, Lal, pre-deceased him in 1999 and in 2006 at the age of 91, he went to live in a home near his youngest son in Sheffield. He was much valued in Norwich and sorely missed.
The Stern Family