James Eldon STERLING

STERLING, James Eldon Jim passed away February 19, 2009 after 76 long and fun years. Jim was born in Calgary on April 9, 1932 to Esther and Joe Sterling and grew up with siblings Judy and Bill. In Calgary Jim met and fell in love with his wife and best friend of more than fifty years, Judy Clark, and together the couple created their own family with their kids Ken and Karen. Jim loved living in Calgary and never missed a football game or the Calgary Stampede. Jim and Judy loved to get together with their best friends to drink a little (lot) of beer and just enjoy life. After leaving Calgary, the family lived in Sherwood Park and St. Albert. Jim and Judy "retired" to Duncan, BC where they met many wonderful new friends. Retirement was busy with most summers spent in Port Renfrew fishing and catching "that really big fish, the ones that didn't get away" and traveling through the interior of BC and Vancouver Island, and many other parts of Canada. Winter was snowbird time, down the US West Coast in their 5th wheel and mini van or to warm places like Mexico and Cuba. Three years ago they made the move into Victoria where they purchased a beautiful condo on the inner harbor. Jim combined a playful fun spirit with a successful business career with Calgary Power/TransAlta Utilities where he worked for thirty-six years. Some of Jim's first years with Calgary Power were spent supervising the construction of transmission lines to the oilfields around Drayton Valley. As Calgary Power became TransAlta Utilities, Jim moved to first work in the Edmonton office and then became Division Manager in St. Albert. One of his first responsibilities was overseeing the construction of the new St. Albert Office and other regional offices. Jim managed the St. Albert division of TransAlta Utilities from 1975 until his retirement in 1991. Jim was a well respected and active member of the communities around him, donating his time and business expertise and holding many significant titles in the organizations he believed in. In Sherwood Park Jim was President of the Wye community association. In St. Albert he donated his time to Junior Achievement, to the Northern Alberta Heritage Trail, and was a member of the Chamber of Commerce. Jim was particularly proud of the many positions he held over his eighteen year tenure on the Board of Directors of the Hydro Saving and Credit Union. Jim was involved with the Alberta Society of Engineering Technologists (ASET) from the beginning as Calgary Chapter President, then Alberta President and member of the Board of Directors, Canadian Council. The respect of his peers and community was demonstrated at his well attended retirement party in St. Albert in 1991. Jim was truly unforgettable and touched many lives in his time with us. He will be deeply missed by all his family members, his sister Judy (Ray) Habermehl, his wife Judy, his daughter Karen and his son Ken who has always held his dad as his role model. At Jim's request there will not be a formal Funeral Service. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in memory of Jim Sterling to either the Alzheimer Society ( www.alzheimers.ca ) or the Canadian Cancer Society ( www.cancer.ca ). Published in the Calgary Herald on 2/26/2009