John William Sterling
1844–1918 (age 74)
Lawyer
Biography
John William Sterling became one of New York’s leading corporate lawyers, guiding financiers and institutions while building a reputation for integrity and meticulous judgment at the firm that still carries his name.
He devoted his estate to large-scale philanthropy, most famously underwriting Yale’s Sterling Memorial Library and other civic causes, and his memory rests in the peaceful grounds of Woodlawn Cemetery.