Howard Sturim
Howard Sturim died peacefully in his home the evening of March 12th, surrounded by his three sons. He was married to Jeanne Sturim for 56 years and together they raised their sons in Barrington, RI. He was a loving husband and father, and friend to many. The family enjoyed summers on their sailboat and sailed extensively throughout the Northeast. After he retired in 1998, they moved to Providence and after Jeanne's death in 2018, he moved to Kettle Point in East Providence. For 21 years they spent half of the year in Sundance, Utah. There they skied in the winter, hiked in the summer, and enjoyed the beautiful mountains and local adventures and friends.
Howard was born in Astoria in Queens New York, to Edward and Rose Sturim. He attended Syracuse University and graduated at age 19. He then entered University of Rochester School of Medicine, graduating in 1957 at age 23. He trained in General Surgery at Barnes Hospital in Saint Louis Missouri and served as Chief Resident in 1965. His training was interrupted by serving 2 years of active duty with the US Navy, as a surgeon on Air Craft Carriers. He was the surgeon on the Super Carrier flagship "Independence" at the Bay of Pigs invasion. Following his active-duty experience, he trained at the University of Pittsburgh in Plastic Surgery, completing his training in 1967.
He received his boards in both Surgery, and Plastic Surgery and was Chief of Plastic Surgery at Roger Williams Hospital, the Miriam Hospital, and for a time the VA Hospital. He was also on the staff of Rhode Island Hospital. He was a member of most of the prestigious Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery Associations, and served on the board of many of them. He authored 34 Medical Papers during his career.
When he came to Rhode Island the Brown Medical School was starting, and the training program in Plastic surgery was entering its second year. This was the only Plastic Surgery Program in New England at that time. He loved teaching and was a Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery at Brown University and Boston University.
He leaves three sons and their families, Douglas and Kris of Framingham, MA, Robert and Judy of Wenham, MA, Richard and Polly of Charlotte, VT, and his Grandchildren, Nicholas Jennifer, Lilly, Abby and Jake, and Elias and Sam.
Contributions in Howard's memory can be made to the Rhode Island Philharmonic, 248-7000.
