Michael “Joe” Myers graduated from Sterling Township High School in 1958. He began his college career at the University of Illinois where he earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1963. He was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity and continues to be considered as a prominent alumnus. He received his Juris Doctor from George Washington University where he was the editor of the Law Review magazine and awarded the Order of the Coif. He continued his education and received an MBA from Harvard Business School.After graduation Joe practiced law briefly in Philadelphia before relocating to New York City. Most of his career was spent with the Wall Street firm of Smith Barney where he was president and director of their venture capital and private equity investment business, Smith Barney Venture Corporation. After leading and then spinning off the venture capital arm of Smith Barney, renamed First Century Partners, he helped develop many start-up companies and joined the boards of many successful firms. Joe was a longtime member of the Office Depot Board of Directors and a senior advisory partner with a private equity firm, Sentinel Capital Partners, in New York. He was also a board member of Tony Roma’s, HASCO International, Growing Family, Inc., and Floral Plant Growers. He was a member of the New York City Harvard Club and the Union League in Philadelphia.As an alumnus, Joe continued his interest and support of Sterling Public Schools. He contributed to the building of the Centennial Auditorium and attended the dedication ceremony. His father, Cloyd Myers, was a former band director in Sterling schools. In his memory, Joe dedicated a brick outside of the auditorium and also planned and donated the trophy cases in the band rehearsal hallway at Challand Middle School. He was an avid supporter of the Boys’ Club and Junior Golf. He also helped a young woman from Guatemala become an American citizen.After semi-retirement, Joe and his wife, Nancy, retired to a beautiful place in the Low Country of South Carolina called Cat Island. There he remained busy as a principal with a Beaufort, S.C., real estate development firm focusing on residential projects on Cat Island. Joe enjoyed many hobbies including golfing, boating, skiing, reading, dining out, attending the opera, and reading Shakespeare. Joe passed away on July 1, 2009, at the age of 68. He is survived by his wife, Nancy; his children, Gregory and Jennifer; three granddaughters; and his sister, Jean Myers Murray ’59.