He was a University Professor Emeritus and a provost at New York 's Columbia University .
Fritz Richard Stern ( February 2 , 1926 -- May 18 , 2016 ) was a German - born American historian of German history , Jewish history and historiography .
Fritz Richard Stern was a historian   historian and a provost at New York 's Columbia University .
Fritz Richard Stern ( February 2 , 1926 -- May 18 , 2016 ) was a German - born American historian of German history , Jewish history and historiography .