Roll Call Tribute

Lara Sterzing 
February 25, 1971 ~ June 10, 2023 

Lara was called home to the Lord on June 10, 2023, after the sudden onset, and intense short 104-day struggle with stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

Lara “Larissa” Sterzing was born to H.K. "Keith" Sterzing and Virginia Field Sterzing in Taipei, Taiwan February 25, 1971. In 1988 she graduated from the Science Academy at LBJ High School in Austin, Texas. Then, in 1992 she graduated from Texas A&M University, and in 1999 she graduated from her masters’ studies at the University of Houston.

After graduating from Texas A&M, Lara embarked on a journey of business excellence, continuing education, adventure, and service. She travelled for work. She travelled with family. She travelled with friends. And she travelled by herself. She touched six of the seven continents, dozens of countries, and hundreds of cities. She gave selflessly through volunteering and donations to organizations and causes near to her heart.

When not travelling the world, Lara was also active in the Orthodox Church and regularly worshiped at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Houston, Texas.

Lara was preceded in death by her father Keith '61, Aunt Bettye and Uncle Bruce '54, and Aunt Sandra.

She is survived by her mother, Virginia, her brother and sister-in-law (Peter '94 and Kerstin), her nieces and nephews (Dominique '20, Alex, Ariana, and Taylor), as well as her uncle (Ross '63), many cousins, and all of the “adopted” family with her close friends who all knew her as “Auntie Lara.”

Lara’s funeral will take place at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral on Friday June 16, at 9am, located at 3511 Yoakum Boulevard, Houston, TX, with visitation from 8 to 9 am immediately preceding the service.

Following the funeral, the family will transport Lara for a private, graveside service and burial at her family’s section of the Oakwood Cemetery Annex in Austin, Texas.

In lieu of flowers or other gifts, the family suggests making donations in her memory, to honor her selfless dedication to others, to one of the following:

Texas A&M Foundation: https://www.txamfoundation.com, and select “Give now” and then “General Memorial Fund.” Alternatively, you may write a check payable to the “Texas A&M Foundation” and mail to 401 George Bush Drive, College Station, TX 77845. Please designate Lara Sterzing (on the bottom of the donation page “This gift is in honor of someone special” or in the memo section of a paper check). These donations will then create the perpetual Lara Sterzing ’92 Memorial Scholarship, (with specific scholarship designation toward female undergraduates).

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN): http://support.pancan.org/goto/LaraSterzing 

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral: https://www.agoc.org/donate/stewardship, and select “Stewardship/Donations Online.”

Donations toward funeral and burial expenses and final medical bills: https://gofund.me/6a8b133f