In Memory

Anthony Ott

Anthony Ott

From Coronado Eagle and Journal – 04/14/2005

Tony Ott: May 26, 1949 - March 22, 2005

Long-time San Diego public relations professional Tony Ott died March 22 in his Coronado home due to sudden heart failure.

Ott was 56 years old.

News of Ott's death stunned family, friends and members of the local public relations and political consulting circles, many of whom became acquainted with Ott during his more than 30 years in the profession in San Diego.

"Tony was a legend in the PR business in this town," said Jack Berkman, president and CEO of Berkman Communications. "His energy, his enthusiasm, his focus on professionalism and total client satisfaction was second to none."

Born on May 26, 1949 in Pasadena, Anthony Logan Ott graduated from Pasadena High School in 1967. After enlisting in the U.S. Navy, he served in Vietnam as an Aviation Ordinance Aircrewman, logging more than 2,500 hours of flight time. Following his military service, Ott graduated from Pasadena City College with a degree in Journalism, then moved on to the University of Southern California, where he earned his degree in Public Relations in 1975. While at USC, Ott served as Founding President of his Fraternity, and was an accomplished member of the USC Fencing Team. Ott also completed graduate studies in broadcast journalism at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).

Ott started his career in public relations in the Los Angeles area, holding diverse positions in communications including Director of Special Events for Broadway Department Stores, Communications Manager for the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, and Corporate News Bureau Manager for United Way of Los Angeles County.

In 1977, Ott moved to San Diego to join City Councilman Bill Mitchell's office as Chief of Staff. Over the ensuing years, Ott remained active in Republican politics, becoming involved with several high-profile campaigns, including the election of San Diego City Councilman Bill Cleator in 1979, and George Deukmejian's campaign for Governor in 1983. He worked with the White House Media Advance team during President Reagan's San Diego re-election campaign visit to San Diego in 1984, and served in the same capacity during President George H. Bush's San Diego visit in 1993. Ott was also active in the influential San Diego Republican Business & Professional Club, as well as the Republican Associates group.

In 1980, Ott established Ott Public Relations, which remained one of San Diego's most active PR firms throughout the1980s and early 1990s. In the mid-1990s, he closed the formal agency and reconfigured his operation into a consulting practice, in which he continued up to the time of his death.

Throughout his career, Ott was active in many professional and community organizations, most recently including the Coronado Chamber of Commerce, the Coronado Chamber Business Network, and MainStreet Coronado, Ltd. He chaired Motorcars & Music on MainStreet for several years. He was active in the Coronado Little League and Pop Warner programs, and was a member of the Old Mission Beach Athletic Club, serving as Media Coordinator for the Club's many philanthropic events, such as the Annual Over-The-Line Tournament.

In 1984, Tony married Carol Howell in a spectacular wedding ceremony held at Fairbanks Ranch Country Club attended by more than 700 high-profile guests. "I just fell in love with Tony. He was handsome and elegant had such a sense of adventure and a hunger for life. He was also the most impeccably dressed man I've ever known," said Carol Howell Ott. "But above all, he was an amazing father who taught his children so much about life, culture and history. He loved his kids so much. We were all so happy when he turned his life over to the Lord last year. Now he is with God."

Ott is survived by his family, including daughter Alexandria Vonna Ott, 19; and son Anthony Lawrence Henry Ott, 16, of Coronado. Survivors include his sister, Barbara Ellen Kassir; brother-in-law Abdul R. Kassir; and brothers, Kenneth Henry Ott, M.D., of San Diego; and Ronald Lawrence Ott, Ph.D., of Pleasanton. A private funeral service was held by the family.



 
go to bottom 
  Post Comment

03/30/16 07:00 PM #1    

Shari Wingate (Eing)

Always seemed like he just wanted to have a good time!


04/04/16 09:42 PM #2    

Douglas Ingoldsby

Tony Ott.  I remember him for his tall stature, great posture and broad smile.  But more than that I remember Tony as the friend who, single handedly, made it possible for me to graduate with my class in 1967.

Let me explain …  

Senior year Tony was in my Physical Science class.  Mr. Peterson.   Mr. Peterson was a nice enough fellow, but spoke in a consistent monotone voice.  With that particular vocal rang coupled with the fact that the class came right after lunch created the perfect storm for inducing sleep during class … which I did frequently.

To make a long story short at one point, a week before our last test, Mr. Peterson had us come up privately and he would tell us what he thought our final grades would be.  I came up and his exact words were: “Ingoldsby, if you get an A+ on the final I’ll pass you with a D.”

Talk about a wake up call!!

Now I knew two things …  1.) Mr. Peterson’s tests always consisted of the questions the were listed at the back of each chapter and 2.) Tony Ott always got A’s on his tests, and was together enough to save every test.

I called Tony and told him what Mr. Peterson had said and begged him to study with me.  He agreed and over weekend we MEMORIZED the answer to EVERY question at the end of EVERY chapter in the textbook.

So when the final came Mr. Peterson said:  “Answer all the ‘even’ questions in chapter one all the ‘odd’ ones in chapter two etc.  So I did.  Then I went back up to Mr. Peterson and said: “Gimme more test sheets and I will answer all the odd questions in chapter one and all the even ones in chapter 2 etc., etc  He said ok and I did.  Didn’t miss one question.  Not one!  

Mr. Peterson gave me a C+

So thank you Tony Ott.  I love you Brother.  RIP my dear friend, I really was really hoping to see you again. 


05/06/17 05:23 PM #3    

Carol Nielson

Tony, you were so much fun.  Always made me laugh, great sense of humor and timing.  Would have loved to see you one more time.


go to top 
  Post Comment