David H. Ott

David Ott was born in Dover, Ohio to parents William and Edna Ott on November 3, 1928.  His father took a job with Ohio Power Company in central Ohio, so the family moved to Granville, Ohio.  David attended Granville High School where he was the Freshman representative for Student Council, played on the football team freshman year, sang in the school chorus for 2 years, played in the school orchestra junior and senior year, and played in the school band all 4 years.  He graduated from high school in 1946.

Before High School Graduation, David had already formed his own dance band.  He was the set drummer for the group, which was called “Dave Ott’s Band – with the motto: Music as it ‘Ott’ to be played.”  He attended college at Depauw University and Ohio State University, 1951.  He was called to service, so he joined the Air Force where he was in the Air Force Big Band stationed at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, then on Guam.  The band traveled to Japan and surrounding U.S. Basses to entertain the troupes during the Korean War.  After an Honorable Discharge, he was hired as a high school band director at Utica High School in Utica, Ohio.  It was here when he met the love of his life, Patricia Safreed, who was the high school’s counselor and Economics Teacher. They were married in 1956, and had two children, Susan and Karl.  They moved to Springfield, Ohio in 1963 where he taught Marching and Concert Band at Springfield South High School.  In 1971 the family moved to Piqua, Ohio where David’s new job was the Fine Arts Supervisor for Piqua City Schools.  David was the Chair of the Ohio Music Teachers Association during this time, and judged many solo and ensemble contests.  He retired from education in 1983.

David was an inspiration to countless students, his friends and his family.  When he started a task, he was “all in.”  As a high school band director, Mr. Ott made sure to give his students not only unparalleled musical instruction and rich experiences, but he instilled responsibility and self esteem in his students.  He always strived for excellence, and never accepted less.  He encouraged his students to rise above what they thought themselves capable, and made sure they knew how to conjure up that level of excellence in other facets of their lives. 

As a school district administrator in Piqua, Ohio, David fought for the Fine Arts Teachers’ ability to keep inspiring their students through the fine arts.  This was not a particularly easy job in an economy that demanded cut backs in many businesses and education.  But he was able to keep these programs viable, and kept the teachers inspired and employed.  He loved the community in Piqua and showed this by volunteering in community events such as manning the Salvation Army’s red collection bucket and ringing the bell in front of Grissom’s Grocery Store at Christmas time, being a member of the Piqua Elks Club and helping to light the fireworks at the 4th of July celebrations at Fountain Park. 

As a retiree, David began living out his dreams.  Being a master modeler of cars, trains and planes, he always lived in a house with a large basement where he built a wonderful workshop. He won local and national awards for his artistry in modeling airplanes.   As a retiree, he earned his pilot’s license and bought a 2-seater Cessna, then traded that one in for a 4-seater.  If that wasn’t enough, he built and flew real airplanes.  One of those airplanes was a Hatz Bi-Plane.  His plans and plane were featured in Sport Aviation Magazine article in 1988.  He and Pat would fly to surrounding towns just to go eat breakfast, then fly back to Piqua. 

After his wife retired for the second time, the couple moved to Lake Worth, Florida in 1996 to be with their children and grandchildren.  He sold his beautiful Bi-plane because he didn’t want to fly over the Smokey and Appalachian Mountains to get to Florida.  He bought another Cessna in Lantana, but soon decided that there was too much controlled air space, so gave up flying.  On a prior trip to California to visit their son who was a bandleader on a cruise ship, they realized that they loved Cruising.  After moving to Florida they joined a travel club, and went on cruises to the Caribbean and surrounding areas.  They took their children and grandchildren on several cruises, as well as enjoyed cruises with their friends from the travel club.

David, not to be the one to settle for only cruising on ships, began building a model railroad layout in the garage.  The workshop was in the space of one car, and the railroad layout was in the space of the other car in their 2-car garage. “New Sylvania” was featured on a National Tour of Model Railroads in 2001. 

David was always fiercely supportive of his family, and made sure to be available to attend concerts, recital and plays, as well as events and celebrations of his children and grandchildren. He is survived by Patricia A. Ott, his wife of 60 years; his daughter Susan Ott Rodberg (husband Eric Rodberg) and his son Karl Ott (wife Debra Ott); his grandchildren Kelsey Alice Lin (daughter of Susan and Eric), David K. Ott (son of Karl and Debra), and Karl Rodberg (son of Susan and Eric).  He was loyal husband, father and grandfather.  He will be fondly remembered and dearly missed.

The family will receive friends for the Visitation on Wednesday, July 12 from 7:00 pm to 7:30 pm with the Service beginning at 7:30 pm at Tillman Funeral Home & Crematory, 2170 South Military Trail, West Palm Beach, FL. The Interment with Military Honors will be held 2:45 PM on Thursday, July 13 at South Florida National Cemetery, 6501 State Rd 7, Lake Worth, FL. Please assemble in Lane #3 by 2:35 PM if attending services at the cemetery on Thursday.