On December 23, 2019, Sterling passed away from what we later learned was Malignant Lymphoma. He had not been feeling well for some time; however, whenever he went to the doctor, he was told he had sciatica. Unbeknownst to him and our family, Sterling was battling cancer and unfortunately had to deal with pain and suffering with no treatment. He was never given an MRI, nor tests run and ultimately was misdiagnosed. It is our hope that another family does not suffer the same fate that ours did. Sterling Legacy Fund, Inc., will help to support minorities in the healthcare field with the valuable resources needed to receive proper testing and care. By partnering with programs that pave the way for Black students to attend medical school and partnering with medical schools to create scholarships for underrepresented students to become doctors, then we will create an ecosystem of caring medical professionals who take our pain seriously.

As someone who grew up playing basketball at the local recreation center, we know how important physical play is for our youth. We will renovate basketball courts in Sterling’s honor called Sterling Courts.