David Landon Sterling

What a long strange trip it’s been. Living a fulfilling life, David Landon “Lanny” Sterling, 73, passed away unexpectedly of a pulmonary embolism early Monday morning, June 5, 2017. Lanny was married to Lea Ann Sterling, father to Mariah Smith (Dr. Ru Ya Smith), Amelie Sterling (Tyler Wieserman), and Daniel Sterling and was a dear friend to all. Born October 6, 1943, in Boston while his father, the late Alfred “Dave” Ernst Mueller-Sterling, finished his doctoral work in humanities at Harvard. Lanny’s mother was Marion Radloff Sterling of Plymouth, Wisconsin, the daughter of the community physician. Lanny grew up in Columbia, Missouri where his father served as a professor at Stephens College. Lanny participated in Boy Scouts (the Panther Patrol) and attended Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. Lanny spent his last day healthy and active, touring his beloved Leelanau County with one of his childhood friends, Ron Asher, who was with Lea Ann the next morning when she learned of Lanny’s sudden death. Lanny attended the University of Missouri but California beckoned in the early 1960s. He worked at Troubadour Club in L.A. and later lived on a houseboat in Sausalito. In 1968, Lanny moved to Columbus, Ohio to assist his Panther Patrol friend, Dave Shelburne, with creating a film. From there, Lanny attended Woodstock and travelled in painted school buses, expanding his mind and chasing horizons. The Gypsy bus he drove continues to rest at a Panther farm in southern Ohio. During his early years in Columbus, Lanny worked as a leather craftsman and co-founded Benchworks, a craft collective on the corner of Hudson and High Street. He also became an urban pioneer in historic Olde Towne East, renovating and revitalizing the aging Victorian neighborhood while building a diverse community there. Lanny knew Lea Ann as one of the lawyers across the street from the Olde Towne East store he managed and also knew her five-year-old son Mariah, who visited her office. In the beginning of their blooming relationship, Lea Ann took Lanny to Leelanau County to see if he “passed the test” and yes indeed, he loved the area as much as she did. They were married at the Pyramid Point lookout July 3, 1987. Lanny turned into a family man but we can’t say he ever “settled down”. Life was great for the Sterling family in Columbus, but Leelanau was too tempting. They relocated to Leelanau County in 1998, becoming immersed in the community. With Lea Ann, Lanny co-founded Sterling Law Office in 2001. Lanny became involved in multiple organizations and associations that included being a founding member of the Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear (PHSB); becoming the treasurer and later president, and general contractor for PHSB’s renovation of the Olson Farm in Port Oneida in cooperation with Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore; serving as a board member for the Glen Arbor Art Association, preserving the Thoreson Farm as a site for art events; serving on the board of the ACLU of Northwest Michigan, and being president of the Storm Hill Association. Lanny served for over a decade on the Empire Village Council and Planning Commission. His primary accomplishments in these positions were approval of the plan for the New Neighborhood, point-of-sale septic inspections, and parking solutions at Empire Beach. More recently, Lanny helped coordinate charity concerts to help raise donations for the Emergency Fund of the Empire Area Community Center for which he also served as treasurer. Lanny enjoyed the outdoors, walking and hiking every day with his dogs. He also spent summer months playing tennis; riding his motorcycle; biking, camping, kayaking, and canoeing. Lanny had a collection of hobbies that included photography; music; growing orchids, succulents and other plants. Lanny was a wonderful father who always encouraged Mariah, Amelie, and Daniel to follow their dreams and pursue their passions, much as he had done. He was always their greatest champion in every aspect of life. In recent years, he spent an increasing amount of time with Lea Ann in Hilo, Hawaii at the home of Amelie and Tyler; in Houston with Daniel, and with Mariah and Ru in Chicago. As the Dalai Lama encourages, Lanny combined a good mind with a good heart. Most of all, Lanny lived happily in Leelanau County with his family and friends. A memorial celebration will begin at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, June 10, 2017 at The Leelanau School in Glen Arbor followed by an afternoon tea. While Lanny loved flowers and plants, Lanny would prefer that donations be made to the Empire Area Community Center, P.O.Box 123, Empire, Michigan 49630.

David Landon Sterling

October 6, 1943 - June 5, 2017