Harold Stein

DATELINE: Warwick

STEIN, HAROLD, 93, of Warwick, passed away early in the evening of June 19 at home with his loving family by his side.  He was the beloved husband of June M. (Shore).  Born in Providence, November 15, 1919, he was the son of the late Louis and late Anna (Morein) Stein.

Living through the Depression in Providence, he worked in any capacity from childhood on and sacrificed to help provide for his parents and three siblings, his elder sister, the late Ida, his elder brother, the late Gilbert, and his younger sister, the late Rhoda, during those difficult years.  A wrestler at Hope High School, he graduated in 1937.  He worked at Brown & Sharpe before enlisting in the Rhode Island National Guard in the 243rd Coastal Artillery for a year, being discharged in October 1941.  Upon the attack at Pearl Harbor, he immediately enlisted in the Army Air Forces.  Quickly rising in the ranks due his “previous military experience”, he entered Officer Candidate School in Miami Beach, there with Clark Gable and Hank Greenberg.  As an operations officer, he was offered the choice of assignments between Alaska and Africa.  Not liking cold weather to begin with, he chose warmer climes.  Harold served in a number of line bases across Africa from 1943 on.  He participated in the transport of paratroopers for the Invasions of Sicily and Italy, and directed the never-ending movement of vital supplies “over the Hump” through 1945.  Rising to the rank of First Lieutenant, he became the Commanding Officer at one base.  Through three bouts of malaria and a severe neck injury during a flight, that later affected him for over two decades, he always remained deeply devoted to his love of Country.  After the war in Europe, he was on leave in Rhode Island where he met June.  Immediate attraction and the War being the War, they were quickly married in July and moved to California for his re-assignment for potential hostilities with Japan.

Discharged late in 1945, the couple returned to Providence, where Harold briefly worked in the Shore and Saltzman in-law families’ businesses, and then owned a spa in Providence.  He proudly remained active in the Air Force Reserves until 1950.  He joined John Hancock Life Insurance Company as an agent, moving to Warwick where his “territory” was assigned.  Helping people financially came as a calling, and he gained an additional brokers’ license.  Making his weekly and monthly collections at his clients’ homes morning, noon, and night, six days a week, he loved their children and they him, carrying a pocketful of gumballs and making them magically appear out of their ears.  Also, his car always had a box of Milk Bones for the dogs.

Harold was involved with the Warwick Volunteer Fire Department, and became very active in local and state politics in the Democratic Party.  He was a lifelong member of the American Legion.  He was an excellent and devoted father, raising three loving sons, the late David A., Paul M., and Robert G.  Due to his own insistence on primarily meeting family responsibilities before and after the War, he did not pursue higher education.  He was incredibly intelligent, being able to converse with anyone on a wide variety of worldly topics.  He absolutely understood the very high value of a college education for his children, and all three graduated.  Regarding careers for his sons, his philosophy was to allow them to go into whatever field they wished, “as long as you enjoy what you do and work as hard as you can”.  Always feeling he needed to provide guidance and advice to his sons, even when unnecessary, during one discussion, he once jokingly remarked, “You may have a Ph. D. in Physiology, but I have a Ph. D. in Everything.”

Harold “retired” from John Hancock after 30 years, but not comfortable in retirement, he became a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker, again to serve his community, for 10 years.  Finally retiring for good, he and June traveled throughout North America in their Winnebago, with their beloved dog, before settling down in Warwick for the spring and summer and in Palm Desert, California for the fall and winter.

With more than seven decades experience, Harold was a master poker player.  Texas Hold ‘Em and Omaha were his favorite games, and it was uncommon for him to lose at the end of a night.  He was a regular at Foxwoods, and at Agua Caliente Casino in California, 15 minutes away, he was there more days than not.

Harold was a kind, warm, gentle, generous person and a wonderful storyteller, with a quick, very dry wit.  He formed instant relations with everyone he met.  He was foremost concerned with everyone but himself, never wishing to be a bother to anyone, even until the end of his life.  He was a real mensch by any and every definition.

As the Stein family patriarch, besides his wife of very close to 68 years and two loving sons, he leaves two adoring daughters-in-law, Denise and Kathy, four devoted grandchildren, Michael J., David S., Zachary D., and Cameron D. Stein, whom he was indeed proud to know that his educational and career inspiration has been carried on to his children’s children, nephews, nieces, cousins, and many, many dear colleagues, friends, and neighbors.  He will be greatly missed by everyone his life touched.

Services will be at Shalom Memorial Chapel, 1100 New London Avenue, Cranston on Sunday, June 23 at 10:30 a.m.  Burial with military honors will follow at Lincoln Park Cemetery, 1469 Post Road, Warwick.  Shiva will take place at the family home at 701 Orleans Ct., Warwick Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to organizations that benefit military veterans and current members of the military.

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