William R. "Bill" Ortman

William R. "Bill" Ortman Resident of Berkeley, CA Bill Ortman passed away peacefully Sunday morning, October 7, 2012, in his home in Berkeley, CA. He was preceded in death by his spouse, Suzanne, in 2006. He is survived by his sister, Aileen Askham, his four children and their spouses, Chuck and Anne Ortman, Vickie Smith, Richard and Hope Ortman and Kristin and Bob Donovan; his nine devoted grandchildren, Scott Ortman, Amie Blanco, Liane Lee, Alex Smith, Corinne Smith, Will Ortman, Sara Jensen, Katie Donovan and Rob Donovan, and six great grandsons, Ian, Ben, Warren, Miles, Cyrus and Escher. Bill was born and raised in Berkeley, CA by his parents, Charles J. Ortman and Jessie Rohde Ortman. Bill's father was a Lieutenant with the Berkeley Fire Department, and was killed in 1939 while saving 3 children from a burning house. While Bill was attending UC Davis in 1942, he met the love of his life, Suzanne Stephens, and they were married in 1944. After the War, where Bill served in the US Army Air Corps, he returned to Berkeley and opened Ortman's Ice Cream Parlor on Solano Ave. In 1950, the store moved to the corner of Solano and Colusa, where Ortman's operated for 43 years. An old quart milk bottle from his grandfather's creamery in Berkeley, established in the 1880's, sat on a ledge above the front door of the store. In the 1950's Bill became interested in antique automobiles and joined the Horseless Carriage Club, and he remained a member the rest of his life, he and his wife developing many lasting friendships. He owned several antique cars, but his favorite was a 1910 Buick touring car. Bill and his wife loved to take the Buick touring with other members of the East Bay chapter of the HCC. Bill also shared other interests with his wife, such as the Hill Hoppers dance club and several bridge groups, where they made lifelong friends. When Ortman's Ice Cream Parlor closed in 1993, many Berkeley residents were saddened to lose their favorite treat. As Bill was once quoted, "It's a fun business. Everyone comes looking for something good, and we try our very best to give them something good." And he always did. A Private memorial service will be held in his honor.