ROBERT CLARK STERLING

BRANDON — Robert Clark Sterling passed away peacefully Feb. 7, 2026, at the age of 81. He died at the Pines in Rutland, which was oddly appropriate. He was the Administrator there back when it was Eden Park and many of his staff are still there. Everyone there took loving care of both of us and I thank them very much for that.

Bob was born in Woodstock, Vt., Aug. 25, 1944, to Richard and Mary Abbott Sterling. He was a 1963 graduate of Woodstock Union High School, but the class of ‘62 always considered him theirs because for all but one year he was. Following graduation, he enlisted in the Navy, where he served as a Corpsman for four years. He then went on to Castleton State College, where he earned an associate’s degree in nursing in 1969 and a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1973.

He worked as an RN at Rutland Hospital, the VA hospital in White River Junction and Gifford Memorial Hospital in Randolph before finding his true vocation in being a Nursing Home Administrator. The homes lucky enough to have him were Tranquility Nursing Home in Randolph, Vt., Springfield Convalescent Center, Green Mountain Nursing Home in Colchester, Vt., and Eden Park in Rutland. Bob loved taking care of his residents, their families, and his staff at every facility in his charge and they all knew it.

He retired in 2012 but went on to Addison County Home Health & Hospice for seven more years as a wound care nurse. He was very proud of being an RN for 57 years and an administrator for almost 40 years.

Bob is survived by his wife, Mary Frances (Muffie), whom he married Dec. 28, 1968; his daughter, Peggy and her husband, Jim Zopelis and their daughters Claire, Grace, and Lily; his son, Rob and his wife Audrey and their daughter, Harriet; and his daughter from a previous relationship, Bethany and her husband Jerry Harrington and their daughter Christen and her husband, Paul LaFountain and their children, Bella and Hudson. He is also survived by his sister, Marianne Seymour; his brother, Jon and his wife Tamara; his sister and brother-in-law, Terry and Bob Douglas; and his brother-in-law, Bill Dupre. His nieces and nephews who also survive him remember him especially for making them laugh.

Bob was predeceased by his parents; his in-laws, Bill and Belle Dupre; his sister Sherry Heinrichs; brothers-in-law Tom Dupre and Jerry Brisson; and sisters-in-law, Connie (Dupre) Chapman and Lee Dupre.

A Memorial Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Feb. 16, 2026, at 11 a.m., at Our Lady of Good Help (St. Mary’s) Catholic Church in Brandon. Rev. Maurice Moreau, pastor and friend, will be the celebrant.

Following the ceremony there will be a celebration of Bob’s life at the Brandon American Legion, from noon-2 p.m. A private graveside committal service and burial, with military honors, will take place in the Spring in the Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Randolph.

Memorial gifts in lieu of flowers may be made, in his memory to the Brandon Food Shelf and the Brandon Area Rescue Squad. Arrangements by Miller & Ketcham of Brandon.◊