Martin Henry Kern

Martin Henry Kern, 94, died Monday of natural causes. Born in Alliance, Ohio, on December 13, 1919, he made El Paso his home from 1947 until his death. After earning an English literature degree from Mount Union College in Ohio in 1941, he served with the 8th Army Air Force, 466th Bombardment Group, in England in World War II. After the war, he moved to El Paso, traveled as a pianist with a professional jazz trio called the Tune Jesters, and later worked in public relations and as a stockbroker. In 1965, he earned an MBA in Finance from the University of California at Berkeley and then began a 20-year career at the State National Bank, which was later MBank, and is now Wells Fargo. He became head of the Trust Department in 1966, Executive VP in 1977, and President/CFO of the Bank in 1981. He retired in December 1985 as CFO/Vice Chairman of the Board. Martin was a lifelong member of Temple Mount Sinai, where he was an Officer and Trustee. He served on the Investment Advisory Committee of the Teacher Retirement System, and as VP of the Sun Carnival Association, Director/Treasurer of the El Paso Welfare Unit, and Board Member of the Salvation Army, Visiting Nurses Association, El Paso Symphony Orchestra, and Hotel Dieu Medical Center. He chaired the El Paso Child Rehabilitation Center’s Capital Funds Campaign and, in 1993, received the Conquistador Award for his years of service on the City of El Paso’s Employee Pension Board. He belonged to the Rotary Club and the Phoenix Society of Financial Analysts. Martin attributed his longevity to daily mental and physical exercise. He read a variety of newspapers and journals, maintained a financial portfolio online into his 90s, and was an avid and accomplished bridge player. He traveled extensively, was especially fond of Scotland, and was partial to a well-aged single-malt Scotch. He played the piano regularly, and with excellence, until his death. He is survived by his twin children, David Kern of El Paso and Suzan Kern of Washington, D.C., both attorneys; seven grandchildren, Noah Kern (Jen Kramer), Isaac McCoy (Cecillee Bolton), Dan Kern (Dixie Sellers), Drew McCoy (Jenn McCoy), Chris Kern, Spring McCoy, and Mollie Kern; and one great grandchild, Stellan Ray Kern. He was predeceased by wife Helen Kern, brother Alfred Kern, and parents Harry and Mollie Cohen. Pallbearers are Isaac McCoy, Dan Kern, Drew McCoy, Deb Benedict, Bill Carvajal, and Marcia Dahlberg. Honorary pallbearers are Joe Feldberg, Rachelle Gomolsky, Stanley Marcus and Phil Rothstein. Services are at 11 a.m. Thursday, August 21, 2014, at Temple Mt. Sinai, 408 N. Stanton St., burial to follow at Mt. Sinai Cemetery. A minyan will be held at 6:30 that night at the Montevista at Coronado, 1575 Belvidere St. Donations in Martin’s honor may be made to the International Essential Tremor Foundation (essentialtremor.org). Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Home-West. Please sign our online register book at www.sunsetfuneralhomes.net