Peter Joseph Sterling

Peter Joseph Sterling passed away on July 8, 2016 after a courageous four-year battle with cancer. He was 51 years old. Peter was born in the town of Fullerton in Orange County, CA on July 7, 1965. He was the fourth child and third son of Robert and Eleanor Sterling. He grew up in La Habra, CA and attended Our Lady of Guadalupe parish school, Servite High School, Fullerton Community College, and graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in Public Administration in 1987. After graduation, he moved to Washington D.C., where he worked for Congressman Jack Kemp on Capitol Hill and later as a legislative staffer on Kemp's 1988 Presidential campaign. Upon "retiring" from politics, Peter returned to Southern California and began a career in direct mail which led to a career path in advertising and marketing. He earned his MBA at Pepperdine University in 2003. In 2009, he moved to Arizona to be closer to his children, and worked for Gateway to the East Valley magazine and in January 2011, became the President & CEO of the Mesa Chamber of Commerce. Despite being diagnosed with stage IV brain cancer in March 2012, and a spinal tumor in June 2015, Peter continued to be involved with the Mesa community that he loved so much. Peter was involved with the Mesa Rotary Club, and the HoHoKam service organization. He loved volunteering at Sloan Park for Chicago Cubs spring training and attending weekly Rotary meetings. His outgoing personality and ability to make friends with anyone and everyone will be remembered by all. Peter was blessed with a son Conor, in 1996, and a daughter Faith, in 2001. He loved them dearly and was proud of their many accomplishments. In 2009, he married the love of his life, Megan Linford, and they made their life together in Mesa. A Celebration of Life service will be held at the Hilton Phoenix/Mesa at 6PM on Wednesday, July 20. A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, July 30 at 11AM at American Martyrs Church in Manhattan Beach, CA. Please join us to celebrate Peter and the joy that his life brought to so many people. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made in Peter's name to the Mesa Chamber Business in Education Foundation. The Mesa Chamber of Commerce has established the Peter Sterling Memorial Scholarship in his honor which will be awarded annually in perpetuity. 40 N. Center St. #104, Mesa, AZ 85201 The family would like to thank Dr. Lynn Ashby, Dr. Randall Porter, Terry Thomas, and countless others on staff at St. Joseph's Hospital/Barrow Neurological Institute. Special thanks also to the angels on staff at Hospice of the Valley's Dobson Home, where Peter spent his final days, and to the friends, family, and community who loved and supported Peter and his family during this journey.