Stories serve many purposes. They teach us lessons, inspire, entertain, and give us insight into lives different from our own. Growing up, I was fascinated and touched by the stories my father and his five siblings shared about their past as a part of the Sterns family. There was always a new story to hear, a new lesson to learn, and a new person to be introduced to. I could rarely go out with my father without him seeing somebody he knew, even if they were a friend of a friend of a distant cousin. The memories that have been shared and the family’s inspiring outlook has instilled in me core values and a pride in my family that I wish to express in this book. I hope this work provides a glimpse into the lives of a strong family that has endured hardships, celebrated the good things in life, and stayed together, valuing family as one of the most important things in life.