Remembering Bill Sterling
Bill was one of the key founders of KulshanCLT in 1999 and served 10 years as a board member.
“Whatcom County lost an incredible fixture of our community last week. Bill Sterling was one of the key founders of Kulshan Community Land Trust in 1999. Bill learned about the concept of community land trust and brought the idea to Whatcom County. His vision created a lasting legacy by recognizing the importance of permanently affordable homeownership for working families in our community.
Bill’s contributions will be felt for generations to come and Bill’s passion for community will be missed. KulshanCLT will forever be grateful for everything Bill gave, his time, his vision, and his big personality.” – Dean Fearing, KulshanCLT Executive Director
We mourn with Bill’s family and friends and want to express our appreciation for all he did for our community, and for KulshanCLT in particular. Kulshan Community Land Trust wouldn’t be as it is today without his vision and many years of devotion to creating a community everyone can afford. Bill served on the KulshanCLT board for 10 years, from 1999 - 2006 and 2007 – 2011.
Paul Schissler shares, “Bill was a giant of warmth and love and the greatest of friends. Bill radiated love and kindness; even across the room, you could feel it. I think that warm, kind energy resonates in all the places and people who know the way Bill's eyes could shine.
“I will always feel Bill's optimism, too. The community land trust called Kulshan happened because Bill was so full of optimism for what could happen in Whatcom, when he returned from the 1999 national CLT conference in Minnesota. Kulshan is one of many times when Bill was the instrumental in making good things happen.
“So many people are so sad to know that Bill is suddenly gone. And smiling to remember the times when Bill was here.”
– Paul Schissler, Co-Founder and Executive Director during KulshanCLT’s first ten years
Farewell, Bill. We thank you for all you did and for the light you brought to so many.
