Philip Duncan Sturman

Philip Duncan Sturman, born April 15, 1923, in Hertfordshire, England, left this world February 22, 2007, to join Claudia, his bride of 55 years. Mr. Sturman is survived by his three children, Leigh, Trisha and Bill Sturman; his two grandchildren, Joseph and Erin Capps and his nephew Gerald Sturman, Gerald's wife Celia and their children, Yve and Ali.
Mr. Sturman grew up in rural England, the son of the town constable. He is a World War II Royal Air Force veteran who served in India, Thailand and Burma. After the war, Mr. Sturman emigrated to the United States where, on a blind date, he met the love of his life, Claudia Elliot. The majority of his career was with Xerox Corporation, where he was National Sales Training Director, and later expanded their Latin American Operations. It gave him great personal satisfaction to lead Xerox's Step Up initiative in the 1960's, which provided training opportunities to minorities. He devoted many years as loaned executive to the National Capital United Way Program.
Mr. Sturman retired to Wilmington, NC in 1994 where he became active in the Adult Scholars Program. He was an avid reader and collector of books. He loved to fish and camp, and treasured years of fishing trips with his son. Mr. Sturman was a rare mix of old world and marvelously modern, a true renaissance man. He was a great gift to his family and friends; a man of dignity, profound intelligence, compassion and generosity. He will be missed and he is celebrated.
A memorial service will be held at Andrews Mortuary Market Street Chapel at 10:00 a.m. Monday, February 26, 2007.
The family requests in lieu of flowers please take the time with your family to share a meal and time together.
A Market Street Chapel Service.