Laurel "Dick" W. Stein Obituary (2007)

Dick Stein, of Columbus, passed away Friday, August 24, 2007. He was 91. Mr. Stein''s band ("Dick Stein, Music So Fine") played in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s at countless social events, weddings and bar mitzvahs in the Columbus area. He was known for his love of jazz, his velvet singing voice, good looks, and interludes on the clarinet and saxophone; also, for his frequent sexual quips. ("Gettin'' any"") He and his wife Shirley were very active at Temple Israel where he sang in the choir and, as a lay cantor, was proud to sing the Kol Nidre. Always eager to display his well-exercised muscles ("Go ahead...Punch me there!"), Mr. Stein was the winner of gold and silver medals for bench press in the Senior Olympics sponsored by the Jewish Community Center. He outlived his adored wife Shirley, who died in 2002, and elder son Richard, who died in 1996. He is survived by his son, Ron, of Oakland, CA; his niece, Ricky (Richelle) Jacobs, also of Oakland; and his nephews, Mitchell Rabin, of Homestead, FL and Ron Rabin, of Rockville, MD. The residents'' memorial service will be held at Heritage House, 1151 College Avenue, Columbus, on Tuesday, September 18, at 2 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to City Music (memo M.O.R.E. to earmark their music program for disadvantaged youth), P.O. Box 8414, Columbus 43201; or to Wexner Heritage Village, 1151 College Ave., Columbus 43209.