We are sorry to report that Harold "Hal" Stein, Tiny Tim's first cousin, passed away last Saturday, May 16, due to complications related to COVID-19. Hal was the son of Tiny's aunt on his mother's side, Bella Stein, and older brother of Tiny's other close cousin, the late Bernard "Bernie" Stein.
Tiny Tim, himself, passed away of a heart attack in 1996 while singing his hit "Tip-Toe Thru' The Tulips" at a charity event in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Hal and Herbie were very close while growing up. Hal was present at Tiny's very first public performance in kindergarten when he appeared in a school play where he popped out as a jack in the box playing a violin.
The cousins remained close and Hal and his family were also present when Tiny made his first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. In 1969, Hal's sons, Haddon and Adrian, were featured as ushers in Tiny's historic wedding on The Tonight Show. Hal also spoke about his cousin's legacy at his funeral in 1996. "Tiny Tim was a great performer," Hal told the press. "That’s who Tiny Tim was."
While he was certainly proud of his famous cousin, Hal had his own successful career in entertainment. After serving in Korea, he served for 40 years as the marketing director for WPST (FM) and WHWH (AM) radio stations in Princeton, NJ.
Hal is survived by his wife Sherry and children, Haddon Stein, Adrian Stein, Dawn Martin and Jason Martin, and his grandchildren Alyssa and Kaitlyn.
Featured here are photos of Tiny Tim and Hal together when they graduated from Junior High School in 1945 and Hal and his family backstage with Tiny Tim at The Ed Sullivan Show in 1968.