THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY CURRY, B. BOYLE, CALTAGIRONE, CLYMER, COHEN, D. COSTA, DALEY, DEAN, DENLINGER, DiGIROLAMO, FRANKEL, GEORGE, GODSHALL, GOODMAN, HARHART, HORNAMAN, JAMES, KORTZ, KULA, MANN, MILLARD, MOUL, M. O'BRIEN, READSHAW, SANTONI, SONNEY, STABACK AND YOUNGBLOOD, OCTOBER 15, 2012

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, OCTOBER 15, 2012  

A RESOLUTION

Honoring the life and legacy of Mr. Peter Stern, poet, inventor

and successful businessman; and extending condolences to his

family, friends and colleagues.

WHEREAS, Mr. Peter Stern of Cheltenham Township, Montgomery

County, who was known as "Mister Library" to many, passed away

peacefully at home on October 1, 2012, at 91 years of age; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Stern spent most of his life in the Philadelphia

area; and

WHEREAS, He graduated from the Oak Lane Country Day School

and later, in 1943, from Johns Hopkins University; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Stern also courageously served his country in

the United States Army during World War II; and

WHEREAS, In 1957, Mr. Stern founded the Elkins Park Free

Library and, in doing so, formed the Cheltenham Township Library

System; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Stern served as president of the Elkins Park

Free Library from 1962 to 1964 and president of the Cheltenham

Township Library Board from 1964 to 1968, and he chaired the

fund drive for the new Elkins Park Library in 1980; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Stern invented Checkpoint, an electronic system

used to prevent the theft of library books and retail

shoplifting, and, in 1967, founded Checkpoint Systems, Inc., a

worldwide firm that manufactures and installs surveillance, bar

code labeling and methods improvement systems; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Stern was active in the cultural improvement of

Cheltenham Township and served on the Board of Governors of

Cheltenham Center for the Arts from 1970 to 1996, during which

time he served as the board's president in 1984; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Stern wrote and published the children's book

"Gifford the Giraffe," which is a collection of stories he told

to his grandchildren, and published other works; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Stern, a true asset to Cheltenham Township, was

a beloved husband, father, poet, inventor and successful

businessman who was passionate about grassroots politics; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Stern is survived by his wife, Joan; sons,

Andrew and Steven; step-children, Laurie, Wendy, Tracy, Thomas,

Robert and Jennifer; and 17 grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Stern will be missed by his family, friends and

the many residents of Cheltenham Township; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Stern's legacy will live on as the Cheltenham

Township Public Library System is enjoyed by citizens for

generations to come; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives express its

profound sorrow over the passing of Mr. Peter Stern and extend

its heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and innumerable

colleagues; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to

the family of Mr. Peter Stern.