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Toni Canonico (Nasco)
FYI:
DOB 22 Jun 1940
DOD 23 Jun 2023
NAL DOH 1965
William Vits Ott (Billy) peacefully and gently slipped away the morning of June 23, 2023 at his home in the Village of Golf. He gracefully and valiantly endured a 17 year struggle with Parkinson Disease.
Billy was born in Milwaukee, WI on June 22, 1940 to Norman Harlow Ott and Kathryn Vits Ott. He was the third of four children, having been born eight minutes before his twin brother, Bobby. "The Twins", as they were referred to in Milwaukee, grew into little terrors. Frustrated teachers required Billy to wear blue and Bobby brown in order to tell them apart. One year they were made to attend separate schools. Finally, Billy was sent away to Berkshire Academy where, as an underclassman, he first dipped his toe into the entrepreneurial pool by charging to polish shoes and wax the laces of the upperclassmen's shoes. He played Taps on his trumpet each evening; and was Captain of the Midget football team. After a year in Sheffield, Mass., Billy was happy to be allowed to return home where he enjoyed tennis and became the Wisconsin State Champion in his age group. Having added piano to his musical repertoire, Billy, his brother and a friend formed a trio to play at his parent's and friend's parties. Successful with their combo, the twins moved to Aspen, CO where they played jazz at the Red Onion and Golden Horn. They enjoyed a lot of snow skiing, and occasionally dropped in to Aspen High School for classes. As their friends graduated and went on to college, they realized the need for a diploma and procured GEDs. They graduated from the University of Miami with a degree in Business, but not before opening a business of their own, the campus beer and burger joint which they named The Varsity Inn. Subsequently, they opened another V.I. on Key Biscayne. Soon they expanded, opening steak houses which they named Brothers Two; two in Miami, one each in Atlanta and Milwaukee. A friend offered Billy a flying lesson, and the hook was set. He loved flying. He, his brother and Don Burnside opened Burnside-Ott Aviation Training Center at the Opa Locka and Tamiami Airports. BATC evolved into the largest civilian flight training school in the world, with students from 100 foreign countries. BATC got the first civilian contract for the US Military initial flight training, with centers in Pensacola, FL and in Texas at Corpus Christi, Beeville and Kingsville. Ultimately, the business was sold to United Nuclear Corporation, but not before starting yet another adventure--this one in the Put and Call business in the early days of the CBOE. Because of his love of flying, Billy decided to become an airline pilot. He joined National Airlines where he flew 1965-68. During that time, a co-worker, knowing of his entrepreneurial spirit, asked Billy to advise her husband in his quest to open an executive search company. Always up for a new challenge, Billy, along with Bobby and Herb Hertner opened Ott-Hertner-Ott. When Billy and Mary married in 1973, he was a dynamo, juggling steaks and stocks, executives and airplanes. With boundless energy and businesses open around the clock--restaurants closing at 5am and airplanes taking off at dawn--he was always on the go. But it wasn't all work and no play. Billy enjoyed waterskiing, snow skiing and tennis. He loved his airplanes, boats and motorcycles. And he absolutely adored his children: Katie, born in 1974 and Bill, Jr, born in 1978. Having become a family man, and retiring at age 48, Billy turned his focus towards volunteering in the church and the community. He also served on the Board of Directors at St. John's Military Academy in Delafield, WI while Bill, Jr was a cadet. He particularly enjoyed visiting residents in nursing homes; giving financial support to families in need; and, taking care of tuition for students less fortunate. Humble in his generosity, he did these things anonymously. Billy was loved and admired by many; and he deeply loved his family and many friends. There was no shortage of friends, evidenced by the 500 in attendance at Billy and Bobby's 50th birthday party. We have heard from so many who have expressed their remembrances of him as "a Renaissance man", "a role model", "the ultimate cool guy". Although diminutive in stature, he left a very large footprint in the creation of many and varied businesses, in the magnitude of his selfless generosity, in the depth of his faith and in his loving compassion for others. Billy had a zest for life; he loved to laugh; and, particularly enjoyed making others laugh. He had a mischievous grin and there was always a twinkle in his eye. Even as Parkinson’s slowly robbed Billy of his ability to do the things he enjoyed, he braved obstacles with his extraordinary and devoted caregiver, Sasha, by his side.
Billy is survived by an adoring family: his wife, Mary; his daughter, Katie (Jimmy); his son, Bill, Jr.; his two granddaughters, Finley and Addison; two sisters, Barbara and Shelley (Chuck); and his brother, Bobby. There will be a celebration of his life in late October.
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