James P. Sterganos, a longtime Penn State Berks administrator and member of Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Reading, Pennsylvania, passed away at home on August 15, 2026, one day after his 82nd birthday. His wife, Christine A. Sterganos, was by his side.
The son of Greek immigrants Nicholas and Athens (Manuel) Sterganos, he attended Muhlenberg College and the University of New Mexico and spent time as an exchange student in Mexico City. He later graduated from Tarkio College in Missouri.
Sterganos joined Penn State Berks in 1969, expecting to stay only a few years. He remained for more than 37 years and ultimately served as chief operating officer before retiring in 2007. Penn State Berks later included him in its 50th-anniversary history project, where he reflected on the campus’s development from its earlier facilities in Wyomissing to the present campus in Spring Township.
His work in Berks County extended beyond the university. He served with Planned Parenthood, Reading Rotary, the United Way of Berks County and the Berks County Industrial Development Authority. He was also a co-owner of the Brighter Eatery, which operated two locations in downtown Reading.
At Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, Sterganos served as financial secretary and treasurer.
Away from work, he traveled widely and pursued skiing, sailing, fishing, hiking and photography. He spent two years as an alpine ski instructor in the Hazleton area and graduated from the Annapolis Sailing School in 1985. Among his outdoor adventures was a descent of the South Kaibab Trail at the Grand Canyon followed by a five-day rafting trip on the Colorado River.
Sterganos is survived by his wife, Christine; his son, Nicholas Sterganos, and daughter-in-law, Ellyn; his grandchildren, Elizabeth, Jack and Alexander; and his brother, Gus N. Sterganos. He was preceded in death by his parents, Nicholas and Athens Sterganos.
A viewing will be held Thursday, August 27, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Milkins Trymbiski Funeral Home, 4914 Kutztown Road in Temple, Pennsylvania. A second viewing is scheduled for Friday, August 28, from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. at Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 1001 East Wyomissing Boulevard in Reading. A funeral service will follow at the church, with burial at Charles Evans Cemetery in Reading.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in Sterganos’ memory be made to Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church.