Leo J. Bottari

Middletown, RI - Leo J. Bottari, 80, of 520 Wolcott Avenue, Middletown, RI, died peacefully Thursday, February 23, 2012 at Newport Hospital, Newport, RI surrounded by his children.Born in Boston, MA on June 23, 1931, he was the son of the late Guy and Rosemary Kerwin Bottari.Mr. Bottari served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. Returning home, he earned his bachelors degree from Stonehill College and his masters degree from the University of Notre Dame. He came to Newport to join the faculty of Salve Regina University, later earning his Ph.D. from Loyola University. Mr. Bottari was a member of the faculty at Salve Regina University for 39 years. Mr. Bottari, Mr. B, as he was affectingly referred to, taught courses in biology, microbiology, botany and fencing. He served as professor and Chairman of the Department of Biology and Coordinator of the Medical Technology Program until his retirement in June 2001.Mr. Bottari was a recipient of the Outstanding Educators of America Award in 1974. He served on the board of directors of the Newport County Regional Center, and devoted many summers serving as camp director for the James L. Maher Center for adults with disabilities. He also taught at the Newport Hospital School of Nursing.He greatly enjoyed fishing, boating, painting, his greatest joy, however, was spending time with his children and grandchildren.He is survived by his children Michael Bottari and his wife Linda of Middletown, Guy Bottari and his wife Audrey of Portsmouth, Victoria and her husband Daniel Kerloch of Newport, Rosemarie Bottari of Portsmouth, Leo Bottari of Warwick, his niece Sabrina and her husband Marc Paradis of Middletown, his niece Christina Blau and her husband of Concord and thirteen grandchildren.Calling hours will be held on Monday, February 27, 2012, from 5-8 in the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, February 28 at 9:00 am in St. Marys Church, Spring Street, Newport, followed by burial at St. Columba Cemetery in Middletown.In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Bottari Family Endowed Scholarship in Microbiology at Salve Regina University.