James Sterhardt, 79

The Baltimore Sun

James A. Sterhardt Jr., a retired Martin Marietta Corp. executive and former Lutherville resident, died Sunday at a hospital in Sun City West, Ariz., of complications from a fall. He was 79.

Mr. Sterhardt was born in New Brunswick, N.J., and raised in Towson.

He was a 1945 graduate of Towson High School and earned a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering in 1949 from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

He went to work in 1949 as a structural design engineer at the old Glenn L. Martin Co. plant in Middle River and rose through the company to become president of Martin Marietta Strategic Systems. He retired in 1991.

Mr. Sterhardt moved west after his retirement and since 1994 had lived in Sun City West. He enjoyed playing golf.

Mr. Sterhardt was a former communicant of Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church in Towson.

A Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 11 a.m. today at Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church in Sun City West.

Surviving are his wife of 57 years, the former Mary Kelly; a son, James A. Sterhardt III of Tucson, Ariz.; a daughter, Margaret M. Wright of Kilauea, Hawaii; a sister, Susan Sinor of Ellicott City; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

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