Charles Sterne III died at the age of 74 on January 9, 2022 at his home in Wyndmoor, of cancer. He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Eileen Marolla (nee Dooley), sister Wendy Coleman (Fred), brother Rob Steinhart (Jo), his daughters Emily Sterne Schebesta (Michael) and Carly Sterne, and grandsons Lukas and Toby Schebesta.
Charles was born March 25, 1947 in Philadelphia. He spent childhood summers in the Adirondacks and then later at Camp Kabeyun in New Hampshire, where he developed a lifelong love for the outdoors, particularly the White Mountains. After graduating from Penn State in 1968 he began work at Girard Bank in the trust department. In 1993 he began what would become a 27 year tenure at The Curtis Institute of Music, where his work on various planned giving initiatives contributed significantly to the long term financial health of the school. He was beloved at Curtis for his dedication to students and faculty, trustees and donors.
“Chuck” will be remembered by those who knew him as dependable, steady, generous, and kind. He was an avid photographer and a lifelong mountain hiker. He loved the solitude and simplicity of life out on the trail as much as he enjoyed the cosmopolitan culture of art and music he found in cities all over the world. He loved his family and friends deeply, and his hometown of Philadelphia as well. He will be greatly missed. Donations in his name may be made to Kabeyun in Alton Bay, NH (
www.kabeyun.org).
