Donald Everett Sterling

Donald Sterling passed away on February 14, 2026. Born on May 14, 1939, he was 86 years old. Don is survived by his wife of 62 years, Sue Sterling, his oldest son Sam and daughter-in-law Helen, son Wayne and his wife Tami and most importantly, his four grandkids, Dora, Magdalena, Marcus, and Mikala. Don is preceded in death by his parents, Madge and Elmer Sterling and his sister Enid Sterling.

His parents moved west to New Mexico from Sedalia, Missouri in the 1940's, when he was a kid and they settled in Gallup, NM which became his real home. Even after attending UNM for his MA in Civil Engineering and getting married in Albuquerque, he returned to Gallup. His working life as a Civil Engineer really started there with Allgood Sterling & Mataya and continued with his long-time business partner, neighbor and friend Bill Mataya. Bill and Don eventually transitioned the firm to Marc Depauli but Don still couldn't keep away from the office. He finally sort of retired at age 78 and then a few years later, after a long life in Gallup, he and Sue moved up to Highlands Ranch, Colorado, close to Tami and Wayne and his Colorado grandkids. He and Sue made new friends out of new neighbors and Wayne got him fishing again. And whenever he could, Don and Sue would be out driving around, happy as could be, exploring a new area of Colorado near their home, in true NM style.

A Celebration of Life for Don will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at FRENCH-University, located at 1111 University Blvd NE. The celebration will be from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the Reception Hall immediately behind the Funeral Home. The celebration will be an informal gathering of family and friends with light food and drinks.