Florence Rose Stern, 71, Died Sunday February 28, 2021 at Cooley Dickinson Hospital. As a force for justice, honesty and compassion in this world, Flo was a fierce advocate for worker rights. She was born into a leftist political family, which instilled in her a commitment to social justice, on May 8, 1949 to Ralph and Florence Stern. As a student in New York, she quickly became active in the Progressive Labor Party where she developed many lifelong friends as well as a commitment to the working class.

This political affiliation led her to becoming active in her union, Local 215 American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, as a young nurse. She rose through the ranks of the union, rising to president where she was known as a tough negotiator and passionate advocate for her members.  Later she led a campaign to democratize District Council 1707, running unsuccessfully for Executive Director.  She was an active leader and instructor at the Union and College Educators Association Northeast Summer School where she met her wife, Nancy. Soon after meeting her, she joined her in Amherst, where she continued to do union work for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 285, Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) and the United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2322. Flo has served on many boards, including the Town of Amherst Personnel Board, the Amherst Town Meeting, and the Boards of the Jewish Community of Amherst and the World Fellowship Center in Conway NH.

Nancy and Flo raised three children in the Pioneer Valley Cohousing Community, in Amherst and she became a well loved mother figure to Nancy’s extended family of children.

Flo is survived by her sister Lisa Frohne and close cousin Marian Morvillo, as well as daughters, Jaye and Natasha Stern of Amherst, and son Michael deProsse of New London Ct.  She is also survived by Nancy and Flo’s extended family of children, Iyamoro Baker and wife Davida Baker of Belmont New Hampshire, Mishiara Baker of San Francisco, and Kelly Orlando Gonzalez and her husband Steve Gonzalez; as well as grandsons: Isaiah, Emet, Micah, Ahmed, Adam, Xander, Carter and Julian, and granddaughters Jaeliese, Kaelen, Silin, Lanny, Elodie, Dahlia, and Jasmin. She is predeceased by her brother Steve Stern and extended family daughter, Kathy Alasfoury.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Amherst Survival Center or the Jewish community of Amherst in memory of Flo.  A private graveside service will occur at the Jewish Community of Amherst cemetery, and a ZOOM Shiva will be led by Rabbi Ben Weiner of the JCA.