Arthur Bottinger

Arthur G. Bottinger, of Cape Canaveral, Florida and Madison, Wisconsin, died February 7, three weeks before his 75th birthday, following a courageous, five-year struggle with renal failure, during which he led an active and fulfilling life. He succumbed to other complications that set in 12 weeks ago. Arthur and his partner of 45 years, Gareth L. Steen, lived life to its fullest. He and Gary were married at hospice bedside by a minister of the United Church of Christ on January 20, 2012. Over the years Art andGary traveled the world together in nearly 40 countries on six of the seven continents. They took great pleasure in diversity and culture, in helping others, and in entertaining friends and family. Art was a consummate cook who was comfortable mixing drinks (house rule: make your own after the first one); he could socialize animatedly in the kitchen while whipping up a gourmet dinner with seemingly little effort. He had a dry, sometimes curmudgeonly sense of humor; Arthur loved football (the New York Giants first and the Green Bay Packers second) and also had an expansive knowledge and appreciation of classical music. In recent years he taught himself to use all the latest electronic media and gadgets. Arthur was born on February 25, 1937, to Arthur and Lillian Bottinger, in Brooklyn, New York. He attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and held a B.S. in Finance from C.W. Post College, and an M.S. in Management Science from Stevens Institute of Technology. Arthur was chief administrative officer of Riverside Church, one of New York City’s major ecclesiastical edifices, working with the renowned Dr. William Sloane Coffin. Other positions he held include Director of Finance for Seamen’s Church Institute of New York and New Jersey, and Deputy Finance Director for Phoenix House Foundation, one of the leading drug and alcohol rehabilitation organizations in New York and California. He was an active member of the Masons for much of his life and is a past master of Puritan-Willard Lodge in New York City. Besides his partner, Gary, Arthur is survived by a brother, William (Josephine) Bottinger; niece,Danielle Bottinger,all of New York; niece, Jay Johnson, and nephews Ken (Justyn) Wolf; Carl (Sue) Wolf, David (April) Wolf; and Donald (Wanda) Wolf,as well as numerous great nieces and nephews, all of Rochester, New York. A sister, Phyllis Bottinger Wolf predeceased him. He is also survived by two sisters in his Wisconsin family, Melba McGinnis and Dianne Kuehl, as well as numerous nieces, a nephew and great nieces and nephews. He and Gary are also blessed with an extended family of dear friends. A memorial service will be held for Arthur at 11 a.m. on Friday, February 17th at the Beckman-Williamson Funeral Home in Cocoa Beach. Interment will be in the Key West Cemetery. Special thanks to the wonderful and attentive staff at Vitas Hospice on Merritt Island who cared for him and made him and Gary part of their comforting family during his last days. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Vitas Hospice Charitable Fund are suggested.