
Ottis 'Ott' Berry Ottis (Ott) Berry was born in Riverside, NJ on August 2, 1922 and passed away on October 20, 2016. He was 94.
Mr. Berry moved to Gloucester City at 4 years of age, where he went through the school system graduating at 16 years of age in the Class of 1939. Upon graduating, and using liberties with his age, he was accepted into the Bridge, Structural and Ornamental Ironworkers Local 399 as an apprentice. While working for Cornell and Company, one the largest independent structural steel erectors on the east coast, he progressed through the ranks to Foreman. During his employment with Cornell and Company, he enlisted in the Air Force and served with the 13th Air Force during World War II. He was stationed at Guadal Canal as a control tower operator. When he returned to the states, continued his employment with Cornell and Company for many years before he started his own company, Berry-Baschoff Inc., his first successful construction company.
Precast Specialties came next and he also began Century 21 Berry-McCormick as a real estate broker. He retired at age 80 and traveled extensively with his wife before deciding to come out of retirement and beginning three Miracle Ear Franchises. At age 85 he permanently retired and again traveled.
Ott liked to hunt and fish and he took hunting trips to Maine and Wyoming with his buddies Lou and Tom Sarlo, Ron Trovillo, and Ed Trowbrige along with others. His boat was docked at the Wildwood Crest marina.
He was predeceased by his mother Ella (Grant Berry) Patton, his father Ottis W. Berry, his step-father, Frank Patton and grandson William Ottis Sikora. Survived by his wife of 74 years, Marion Scherneck Berry, daughter Lynn Berry Sikora, grandsons Charles A. Sikora IV, Christopher Sikora (Jacki) and granddaughter Amanda Sikora Marrocco (Daniel).
Funeral services were under the direction of the Budd Funeral Home, 522 Salem Ave, Woodbury, NJ.
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