Earlier than he died on Thursday morning, Aventura Commissioner Michael Stern devoted a lot of his closing years to spreading consciousness of the indicators and signs of colon most cancers and the necessity to get checked early.
“We have been collectively for 27 years,” his spouse Randy Lipman Stern wrote on Fb Thursday morning. “Final night time my warrior husband misplaced his 5 12 months battle to colon most cancers. He fought with great bravery and braveness. He handed very peacefully at house, surrounded by love.”
When Stern’s physician delivered his analysis in October 2019 — stage IV colorectal most cancers — remorse blended with arduous chemotherapy therapies. Then he discovered formidable energy.
Most cancers consciousness warrior
Stern — additionally recognized for co-founding the life-style Aventura Journal in 1998 with Stern Bloom Media to model the younger metropolis as a competitor to Palm Seaside — mentioned he regretted giving in to concern. He waited till he was 52 to have a colonoscopy.
By that time, indicators and signs, together with ache, had already begun. He mentioned he wished he had examined on the beneficial age 45 when an earlier discovery could have caught the most cancers earlier than it superior.
“I used to be already planning to say goodbye. I used to be in a really darkish place considering that I wasn’t going to be right here for an additional few years, as a result of it was stage IV,” Stern instructed the Miami Herald in an interview in February 2023, recalling his emotions from 4 years earlier after studying he had colon most cancers.
Stern died at his family-filled Aventura house round 1:45 a.m. July 25. He was 57.
Stern was an envoy in South Florida for Battle Colorectal Most cancers to encourage others to bear well timed screenings and different preventive measures. He advocated for most cancers analysis funding in Washington. He was certainly one of 15 survivors who had their photograph and tales displayed on out of doors digital boards subsequent to 27,500 blue flags planted on the Nationwide Mall in Washington in March 2023. The flags represented the anticipated circumstances of colorectal most cancers in folks below 50, in accordance with Battle CRC.
“Michael Stern epitomized what it meant to be a public servant. Serving collectively was a privilege, however being his buddy was really an honor. We’ll be sure that his work lives on and continues to avoid wasting lives,” Aventura Mayor Howard Weinberg mentioned in an announcement.
Education and communication
Born June 18, 1967, in Lengthy Island, New York, Stern moved to South Florida when he was 10. He graduated from North Miami Seaside Senior Excessive in 1985 and from the College of Florida in 1989 with a bachelor’s in enterprise administration.
When Stern co-founded Aventura Journal it was initially named Uncover Aventura for the primary few years.
“We didn’t wish to be about discovering a metropolis, however about upscale dwelling and an upscale picture,” Stern instructed the Herald in 2001. He additionally printed the Aventura Cellphone E-book. He tapped that experience in native communications to hunt metropolis authorities workplace in 2005.
“What units me other than different candidates is that I’ve a pulse on what’s happening in the neighborhood,” he instructed the Miami Herald in 2005 when he first ran for a seat on the fee. His tenure would run from 2005 to 2014 and once more from re-election in 2022 till his loss of life.
In a aggressive marketing campaign in 2005, Stern, then 37, mentioned certainly one of his higher traits was listening.
“I don’t promise something particular,” Stern mentioned on the time. “I wish to promise that I’ll make the perfect determination for each enterprise, resident and customer by working as a group. I’m one particular person, and I can’t make any choices with out the consent of the opposite commissioners.”
Amongst his contributions to town, Stern, who liked biking, journey cruising and snowboarding, based the Aventura Police Division Group Ambassador Panel to function a bridge between town’s police division and the neighborhood.
“Michael exuded a quiet magnificence. He personified all that makes Aventura nice. He fought a valiant battle in opposition to colon most cancers and carried a life-saving message to all who would hear,” Commissioner Linda Marks mentioned on Thursday.
Along with his public service and media profession, he labored in actual property. Since 2021, Stern had been a director of investor relations at Jeffreys Capital, an actual property funding agency in Aventura, and he was a Realtor at Deal Movement Realty, in accordance with his LinkedIn profile.
“Michael was a tireless commissioner for Aventura,” mentioned fellow Metropolis Commissioner Amit Bloom. “However for me, he was my enterprise companion, my buddy, my brother. I’ll cherish the love and experiences we shared for the remainder of my life.”
Survivors and providers
Stern’s survivors embody his spouse Randy Lipman Stern; kids Jordan and Ryan; and his mom, Roz.
A funeral will probably be at midday Sunday, July 28, at Aventura Authorities Middle, 19200 W. Nation Membership Dr.
“For many years, I’ve been proud to be Michael’s buddy. He was a tireless fighter for good and devoted a lot of his life to serving to others,” mentioned Aventura Metropolis Commissioner Billy Joel. “The world is a bit darker with him not in it. He won’t ever be forgotten.”
