Sterling Preston Tignor

Sterling was born in Washington, D.C. on May 6, 1932, the son of Public School Teachers. He graduated with high honors from Dunbar High School where he was a leader in the Cadet Corps. Immediately after high school, he entered Yale University earning a bachelor’s degree in 1953. In his junior year at Yale, he was voted by the Fellows of Davenport College as the student most likely to succeed.

Following graduation from Yale, he studied medicine at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City and received his Doctor of Medicine degree in 1957. He completed his surgical residency at Boston City Hospital in 1962.

He served as a captain in the United States Army Surgical Corps, practicing at Valley Forge General Hospital in Pennsylvania. He was honorably discharged in 1964.

He completed a fellowship at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in 1967 following which he became board certified in Thoracic Surgery. He joined a group practice in Kokomo, Indiana later becoming board certified in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He also taught surgery as a faculty member of the Indiana University School of Medicine beginning in 1981. He served one term as the President of the Indiana College of Surgeons.

He was proud of the work he did in Kokomo, his bonds with colleagues in the medical field, his opportunities to touch others’ lives and the way they touched his. One wing of the local hospital bears his name.

He loved photography, classical music, wood-work, and especially travel in his motor home. He was also an accomplished motorcycle enthusiast and was the proud owner of several motorcycles. He always spoke happily of his trips and the many people who rode with him.

His wife of 58 years - Mary Steffen Tignor - died January 12, 2017. He is survived by his brother Gregory (Eleanor); his daughters Suzanne Goodwin; Cynthia Borgani (Sidnei); his son Martin Tignor (Lisa), and six grandchildren, Steven Tignor, Stephanie Borgani, Wesley Borgani, Emily Borgani, Christian Goodwin, and Michael Goodwin.

Family will welcome friends Saturday, April 14 from 3-7pm at Sunset Memory Garden Funeral Home, 2097 W. Alto Road, Kokomo, IN 46902. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Kokomo YMCA at http://www.kokomoymca.org.