Daniel Stern Obituary (1934 - 2012)

Daniel Henry Stern, Ph.D., of Leawood, Kansas, age 77, died February 8, 2012 at his residence. Services will be held at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah, 12320 Nall Avenue, Overland Park, KS 66209, on Friday, February 10, 2012, at 1:15pm, with burial to follow at Rose Hill Cemetery. Dan was the son of Henry Sycle Stern, M.D. and Adele Lewit Stern, of Richmond, Virginia. He received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from the University of Richmond, and a Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of Illinois (Urbana). He taught at Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, Tennessee; Louisiana State University in New Orleans; and at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, where he served as Professor of Biological Sciences and Nursing and Chair of the Department of Biology. He retired as Professor Emeritus. He received a number of outstanding teacher awards as well as numerous grants in ecology and limnology, his areas of specialization. He welcomed students as participants in research and enjoyed popularizing science for the public, appearing many times on the Walt Bodine program. As a volunteer, Dan served for many years as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) for abused and neglected children in Jackson County, and on the boards of The Nature Conservancy of Missouri, The Jewish Community Center of Kansas City, the Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead in Overland Park, Kansas, and the Alliance on Aging. He received a number of service awards including a Gillis Spirit of Kansas City Award. He was a Life Member of National Council of Jewish Women, and a recipient of its Hannah G. Solomon Award. He was a member of The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah and Cosmopolitan International of Johnson County. He loved music and began his music career playing with his mother and sister, and played for the Richmond Symphony with his mother. He worked his way through college as a violinist, violist, and percussionist. Survivors include his beloved childhood friend and wife, Ann, and sons and their wives, Alexander and Bridget Mansk Stern of Glen Ellyn, Illinois; Jeffrey Levinson and Lisa Gianelly of Auburndale, Massachusetts; Brian and Rhonda Levinson of Basehor, Kansas; John Levinson and Renana Keynes of Silver Spring, Maryland; grandchildren Joseph, Will, Alexandra, Matthew, Ayla, Emerson, and Davi; brother-in-law and sister Drs. John and Marian Kafka of Bethesda, Maryland, nephews, nieces and cousins. In lieu of flowers, Dan asked that contributions be made to Jackson County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate), Family Justice Center, 625 E. 26th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64108; the Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead; or Jewish Family Services.