Obituary: Sterling Skilling

The ITF was saddened to learn of the passing of Sterling Skilling, who for more than 40 years was President of the Federated States of Micronesia Tennis Association.

His passing, at the age of 77, represents a significant loss to the sport he held so dear and to the region of Oceania for which he worked tirelessly to promote the values of tennis.

Graduating from the University of Hawaii in 1972 with a degree in business administration, Skilling proceeded to represent The Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands in Saipan as an account supervisor.

Skilling had longer stints employed by Mobil Micronesia in Guam, Mobil Kosrae and then Moylan Insurance for whom he worked for nearly two decades, leaving in 2009.

Wherever his professional life took him, tennis featured heavily. After being exposed to tennis during his sophomore year at the University of Hawaii, his affection for the sport grew.

He developed his own game while working in Saipan, competed whenever he could and was one of the very first people to introduce tennis to the island of Kosrae.

Skilling represented Kosrae in the first Federated States of Micronesia Olympic Games in 1995 and continued to represent the Federated States of Micronesia Tennis Association for more than four decades.

The thoughts of everyone at the ITF are with Sterling’s family and friends at this sad time.