Dr. Robert (Bobby,Bob,Papa) Sterling

A native of Miami, Bob was born on June 5, 1937. He attended Miami High ('55) where he met his

life-long sweetheart Nancy Jane (Pepper) to whom he was married for 54 yrs.wHe was also a graduate

of the University of Florida and then continued his education receiving a Doctorate of Dental Sur-

gery from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dentistry. He then served as Captain Robert

Sterling in the United States Air Force.Bob thoroughly enjoyed living life, changing lives for the better and

celebrating his many and varied talents. He was a devoted and loving husband and father who

greatly adored his family and friends and made anyone he came in contact with feel important and valued.Dr. Sterling had a special way with all of this patients, providing them with not only excellent, compassionate dental care but with a

sense of humor and many laughs. "Dr. Bob" had that rare and special combination that made his pa-

tients smile and actually look forward to visiting him.A constant advocate for Quality

dentistry, Dr.wSterling regularly taught courses and gave lectures

to help other dentists throughout the nation. He was a spokesman

for thewAmericanwDental Association advocating mouthpiece utili-

zation and fluoridation of water to reduce cavities. Dr. Sterling also

served as president of the South DadewDental Society, and in his pri-

vate practice served as a forerunner in the field of cosmetic dentist-

ry. Those in professional modeling and photographywthought of

him as the "model dentist".Bob was also a pillar in the Miami

community creating the Boys Town Dental Program, honored by

the Archdiocese of Miami. Realizing the dangers of playing contact

sports without a mouth guard, Dr. Sterling created a mouth guard

program for both the University of Miami and the Miami-Dade public

school system making mouth guards mandatory. Thanks to the

tremendous effort, many young athletes have avoided mouth inju-

ries and concussions.One of Dr. Sterling's greatest joys

in life was being a coach, for his sons' little league football and

baseball teams. He was an outstanding coach and led four differ-

ent football teams (from two different parks) to city champi-

onships and a Pop Warner team to national recognition. He was hon-

ored as Pop Warner's "Coach of the Year" three times as well as

leading his baseball teams to multiple little league city and district

championships.Bob also had many hobbies that

he greatly enjoyed. He taught himself how to paint and became

an accomplished artist. He loved playing guitar, fishing, golfing

and making people laugh. But of all of his great accomplishments,

Bob was most proud of how his children became successful, up-

standing adults and community leaders as well as outstanding

parents to, in his words: "the most outstanding, gifted, loving, beau-

tiful talented grandchildren on Earth."Predeceased by parents Bernard

and Libby Sterling and in-laws Dr. Max and Sadye Pepper and broth-

ers-in-law Dr. Marshall Pepper and Roy Weissel. Survived by sis-

ter, Judy Weissel; brother, Stand (Cookie); and by loving and<

treasured wife and partner, Nancy Sterling; daughter, Lauren (Jona-

than) Perlman; son, Lee (Kim) Sterling); son, Craig (Janie) Ster-

ling; grandchildren, Tyler, Trevor, Todd, Timothy Sidney, Brooke,

Zachary and Lindsey.

"HE HAD A TERRIFIC DRIVE THROUGHOUT LIFE AND HE

MADE A GOOD TIME!"

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, July 17, at 1:00 p.m., at

Mt. Nebo-Kendall Memorial Gardens, 5900 S.W. 77th Avenue, in

Miami. The service will be followed by internment at Mt. Nebo

Miami, 5505 N.W. 3rd Street. Shiva will be observed afterwards and

that evening. In lieu of flowers,donations in the memory of Rob-

ert Alan Sterling may be made to Sunshine Cancer Chapter c/o Lee

Sterling, 8353 S.W. 124th Street Suite 209, Miami, Florida 33156

or to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

>legacyView this Guest Book at www.

MiamiHerald.com/obituaries.