John Alan Stein

John Alan Stein, 78, only child of John Henry and Dorothy Grim Stein, passed away on September 2, 2024 at St. Tammany Parish Hospital. Born and raised in Reading, Pennsylvania, he married his high school sweetheart, Jean Ruth Wert in 1965. He started a family, joined the Bethlehem Police Department, and earned a B.A. and M.Ed at Lehigh University. After 2 1/2 years as a police officer, he turned in his badge and published articles in the Bethlehem Globe-Times about his experiences which were the subject of editorials that won the 1972 Pulitzer Prize in Editorial Writing. He moved to New Orleans in 1977 where he managed residential treatment programs for organizations including K Bar B Youth Ranch, Volunteers of American, Hope Haven/Madonna Manor, St. Bernard Group Homes, Jefferson Parish Human Services Authority and Southeast Louisiana Hospital until 2003. In retirement, he presented on topics from his book: Residential Treatment of Adolescents and Children (1955 Nelson Hall). He also travelled widely, visiting 53 countries with his wife. He enjoyed reading and re-reading the Lord of the Rings and would recommend that you read it, too. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Jean, his son Matthew (Sheri Farrae), daughter, Marny (Andrew Donaldson); grandchildren, Jude Stogner, Evelyn-Stein Donaldson, Lily Stein-Donaldson; and great-grandchildren, Adreonna Stogner, Deziray Stogner, and Jase Stogner.