STERLING, W. PATRICK

W. Patrick Sterling, 90, passed away in his Davenport, Florida home on March 18, 2023 from natural causes. He was born on June 28, 1932 in Rochester, Michigan to Pearl (McGinnis) and John K. Sterling. Shortly thereafter, the family moved to Harrison Township and then settled in Mt. Clemens. Pat lived a full life. He attended St. Mary’s High School and loved the fact that, much to the astonishment of the nuns there, he was accepted to the University of Notre Dame his senior year. There, he earned an Architecture degree, became a lifelong fan of the Fighting Irish, and always enjoyed analyzing games and complaining about the football team’s lack of recent national championships. Pat’s career path began with that degree in Architecture but quickly morphed into a fascination with urban planning. In the 1970s, he established a community planning consultancy that helped Michigan townships and cities create optimal residential and business environments. Outside of work, Pat loved sailing, spending summers Up North on Lake Huron and Lake Michigan, and traveling to other countries. To his children, he emphasized the importance of education and empathy. He is survived by his wife of 22 years, Marie, his children Jeanine, Patrick, Christopher, Ann and Adam (Yan Long Li), stepson John Wallen, grandchildren Matthew Schneider, Jordan Schneider, Andria Wallen, and Taylor Sterling, and a large collection of nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his first wife, Edith Miles Sterling. Pat is being interred in Florida. His life will be celebrated locally in April here in Michigan. All family and friends are invited to this memorial luncheon and are asked to email their name(s) and mailing address to WPSmemorial@gmail.com if interested in attending. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Pat’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association.