Sterling T. Apthorp, Jr.

A Celebration of Life Ceremony for Sterling T. Apthorp, Jr. will be held Saturday, May 19, 2018 at 11:00 A.M. at the Thomas Worthington High School Auditorium in Worthington, Ohio.

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Sterling T. Apthorp Jr., a retired assistant principal for the Worthington City Schools, passed away December 29, 2017 at the Selma Markowitz Care Center in Newark. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1936 to the late Sterling T. and Alice (Day) Apthorp.

After graduating from Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio, Sterling served in the U.S. Army and earned his B.A. degree from Dartmouth College, where he was a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He later earned a B.S. and M.A. in education from The Ohio State University.

Sterling worked for Central National Bank in Cleveland before embarking on a 28-year career in education with the Worthington Schools. He taught middle and high school mathematics before becoming an Assistant Principal at the high school for 23 years, retiring in 1994. During this time, he also coached football at Kilbourne Middle School; was the head swimming and diving coach, and assistant football coach at Worthington High School; was head coach for the Worthington Swim Club (AAU); was an assistant football coach at Ohio Wesleyan University; and initiated Ross’ IGA Babe Ruth Baseball team in Newark and served as head coach.

Sterling had a great passion for competitive swimming. At the OHSAA, he became a state rules interpreter for 40 years and state meet assistant meet manager.  He also served as an OHSSCA Executive Board member. On a national level, he served as a rules committee member for the National Federation of Swimming and Diving and as a national federation representative for the Our Kids Initiative.

For his efforts, Sterling was honored as the OHSSCA Swimming and Diving Coach of the Year as well as the National Federation of Swimming and Diving Official of the year (Ohio); received the Carl Wirthwein and NISCA Special Commendation awards; was named to the Worthington High School and OHSSCA halls of fame; and was recognized by the OHSAA for his 50 years of dedication and service to Ohio High School Swimming and Diving.

Professionally, Sterling was a member of Phi Delta Kappa, the Ohio High School Swim Coaches Association, the National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association, the National Federation of Coaches and Officials Associations, the Ohio Association of Secondary School Administrators, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, and the Central Ohio Swim Coaches and Officials Association.

Additionally, he was a member of the Colonial Hills Civic Association in Worthington; the Granville Centenary United Methodist Church, where he volunteered as treasurer; the Kiwanis Club of Granville; and the Granville Recreation Commission. 

After retirement, Sterling enjoyed traveling with Freedom Years to many locations around the world. Of most significance, Sterling will be remembered as a wonderful and caring companion, husband, father, and grandfather who exhibited unwavering integrity, and as a great communicator of life stories.

Surviving are his wife of 53 years, Beth Wilson Apthorp; son Sterling T. “Chip” Apthorp, III of Newark; daughter and son-in-law, Kathryn “Katie” and Josh Bernstein of Denver, CO; grandchildren Stockton and Brooks Apthorp and Piper, Reese, and Sawyer Bernstein; brother and sister-in-law Charles and Jan Apthorp of Dallas, TX; sisters Susan Travis of Wheaton, IL, and Nancy Paterson of Denver; and brother-in-law Doug Paterson of Denver.

A celebration of Sterling’s life will be held in May 2018.

Memorial contributions may be made to Centenary U.M. Church, 102 E. Broadway, Granville, OH 43023; to Licking County Animal Shelter, 544 Dog Leg Rd., Heath, OH 43056; or to Hospice of Central Ohio, P.O. Box 430, Newark, OH 43058.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.mcpeekhoekstra.com.

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